eft   ttf er 


iillt 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

GIFT  OF 
Commodore  Byron  McCandless 


U 


RED-LETTER  DAYS 
OF  SAMUEL  PEPYS 


SAMUEL   PEPYS. 
After  the  portrait  in  the  National  Portrait  Gallery,  painted  by  John  Hailes  in  1666. 


RED-LETTER  DAYS 
OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

EDITED    BY 

EDWARD    FRANK   ALLEN 

WITH   AN  INTRODUCTION   BY 

HENRY  B.  WHEATLEY 


NEW   YORK. 

STURGIS  AND   WALTON 

COMPANY 
1910 


Copyrighted  1910 
By  STURGIS  &  WALTON  COMPANY 


Set  up  and  electrotyped 
Published,  November,  1910 


DA 


PREFACE 

PEPYS'S  DIARY  is  long,  and  life  is  short;  yet  those  who 
have  failed  to  meet  the  Diarist  have  missed  a  rare 
pleasure.  Hence  this  volume  of  selected  passages — 
red-letter  days  from  our  standpoint,  if  not  always  from 
his — which  will  serve,  it  is  hoped,  as  a  good  intro- 
duction to  such  as  do  not  know  Mr.  Pepys,  and  wish 
to  make  the  acquaintance  of  that  most  original  and 
entertaining  gentleman.  These  selections  will  also 
serve  to  make  him  more  easily  accessible  to  the  host 
of  those  who  are  already  on  good  terms  with  him. 

The  editor  has  aimed,  in  assembling  the  passages 
that  follow,  to  present  a  sketch  that  is  characteristic 
of  Mr.  Pepys's  many-sided  personality — a  sketch  full 
of  vitality  that  will  catch  in  its  comparatively  few  lines 
the  distinctive  traits  of  its  original;  and  he  has  also 
endeavoured  to  prepare  a  volume  pleasant  to  have 
at  one's  elbow,  and  most  welcome  when  heavier  read- 
ing palls,  and  there  is  a  desire  to  beguile  the  time  with 
something  at  once  curious  and  enlivening. 


PREFACE 

Only  such  notes  are  included  as  are  necessary  to  the 
enjoyment  and  understanding  of  the  text.  For  most 
of  these  the  editor's  thanks  are  due  to  Lord  Bray- 
brooke's  edition  of  the  Diary.  Notes  provided  by  the 
editor  are  signed  with  his  initials. 

EDWARD  FRANK  ALLEN. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

INTRODUCTION       .           .           .           .           .           .  .XI 

MR.  PEPYS  BEGINS  HIS  DIARY        ....  I 

MR.  AND  MRS.  PEPYS      .           .           .           .           .  -3 

MR.  PEPYS'S  AMUSEMENTS  .....  20 

MR.  PEPYS  ON  ART         .           .           .           .           .  .31 

MR.  PEPYS  ON  BOOKS  AND  READING  ....  33 

MR.  PEPYS  AS  A  MAN  OF  AFFAIRS      .           .           .  .4! 

MR.  PEPYS'S  DEVOTIONS       .....  56 

MR.  PEPYS  IN  HIS  CUPS            .           .           .           .  -70 

THE  PEPYSES   WOO  TERPSICHORE  73 

MR.  PEPYS  HAS  PERILOUS  EXPERIENCES            .           .  -75 

MR.  PEPYS  WITH  HIGH  AND  LOW  ....  82 

MR.  PEPYS  IS  DIPLOMATIC         .           .           .           .  .85 

MR.  PEPYS  AS  CONVIVIALIST          ....  87 

MR.  PEPYS'S  WORLDLY  ESTATE  .           .           .          .  .9! 

MR.  PEPYS  THE  GOSSIP          .           .       .           .  IOI 

MR.    PEPYS   IS    GREGARIOUS       .....  IO8 

THE  HABILIMENTS  OF  MR.  PEPYS  .           .           .  1 1C 

MR.  PEPYS  AS  A  HOST  ......  113 

vii 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

MR.    PEPYS    AND    HIS    PATRON,    LORD    SANDWICH  .  .    I2O 

MR.  PEPYS'S  LOVE  FOR   MUSIC  ....  127 

MR.    PEPYS    THE    OBSERVER  .....   135 

THE  PERQUISITES  OF  MR.  PEPYS'S  OFFICE  .  .  1 54 

MR.    PEPYS'S    PERSONAL    APPEARANCE      ....    158 

MR.    PEPYS    AT    THE    PLAY    .....  l6l 

MR.    PEPYS'S    RELATIVES    ......    185 

MR.    PEPYS   ON    RELIGION         .....  IQ7 

MR.  PEPYS  AND  ROYALTY  .....  2O2 

MR.    PEPYS    COMMENTS    ON    SCIENTIFIC    MATTERS  .  214 

MR.   PEPYS   AND    HIS    SERVANTS   .....  22O 

MR.    PEPYS    VIEWS    THE    CORONATION    OF    CHARLES    II.         .  226 

MR.  PEPYS'S  RECORD  OF  THE  PLAGUE        ....   233 

MR.  PEPYS'S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  GREAT  FIRE        .  .  .  243 

MR.   PEPYS   IS   SUPERSTITIOUS        .....  260 

MR.  PEPYS'S  VALENTINES        .  .  .  .  .  26$ 

MR.   PEPYS   AND   THE  FAIR   SEX    .....   267 

MR.  PEPYS  MARVELS  AT  WONDERFUL  THINGS  .  .  280 

MR.    PEPYS'S    EYESIGHT    ...  .  .   2Q5 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


SAMUEL     PEPYS 


ELIZABETH    PEPYS 


EDWARD,    FIRST    EARL    OF     SANDWICH 


NELL    GWYN 


CHARLES    II. 


.    Frontispiece 

FACING  PAGE 

68 

.  120 

170 

.  230 


INTRODUCTION 

I  HAVE  been  asked  to  write  a  few  notes  on  Samuel 
Pepys,  the  inimitable  Diarist,  as  a  preface  to  this  book  of 
classified  extracts  from  the  great  work  which  has  given 
him  lasting  fame,  and  I  do  so  with  great  pleasure,  in  the 
hope  that  the  remnant  of  the  lovers  of  good  things  who 
have  not  read  and  re-read  the  entire  Diary  may  be 
brought  to  see  the  error  of  their  ways,  and  thus  join  the 
widespread  band  of  devoted  Pepysians.  Surely  no  power 
on  earth  can  prevent  any  one  who  has  read  some  of  the 
Diary  from  reading  the  whole  at  the  earliest  opportunity. 

The  Diary  should  please  every  one,  for  it  appeals  both 
to  the  serious  student  and  to  the  miscellaneous  readers  of 
pleasant  chat.  Sir  Walter  Scott  was  one  of  the  first  to 
review  it  on  its  first  appearance,  Samuel  Taylor  Coleridge 
was  delighted  with  it,  and  Macaulay's  admiration  of  it 
was  unbounded. 

Sir  George  Trevelyan,  in  his  admirable  life  of  his 
uncle,  relates  a  remarkable  dream  the  historian  had  not 
long  before  his  death,  which  proves  how  highly  he 
esteemed  Pepys  and  his  work.  Macaulay  wrote  to  Mr. 
Ellis  that  the  dream  was  "  so  vivid  that  I  must  tell  it. 
She  [his  younger  niece]  came  to  me  with  a  penitential 
face,  and  told  me  that  she  had  a  great  sin  to  confess; 
that  Pepys's  Diary  was  all  a  forgery,  and  that  she  had 
forged  it.  I  was  in  the  greatest  dismay.  '  What !  I 
have  been  quoting  in  reviews,  and  in  my  history,  a 


RED-LETTER   DAYS    OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

forgery  of  yours  as  a  book  of  the  highest  authority.  How 
shall  I  ever  hold  up  my  head  again  ? '  I  awoke  with  a 
fright,  poor  Alice's  supplicating  voice  still  in  my  ears." 

It  is  a  grievous  disappointment  that  Charles  Lamb, 
who  must  have  revelled  in  the  book,  has  not  left  us  his 
impressions  in  immortal  Elia  Essays.  Louis  Stevenson 
fortunately  has  given  us  his  views  on  the  author.  The 
Diary  has  established  itself  in  the  hearts  of  the  general 
public,  but  new  generations  are  growing  up  who  have 
still  to  learn  the  value  and  charm  of  the  book. 

Nothing  in  literature  is  like  it,  for  it  is  absolutely 
honest  in  its  revelations,  and  there  is  none  of  the  postur- 
ing so  common  in  ordinary  confessions.  It  is  amazing 
to  find  a  man  who  can  lay  bare  his  heart  so  thoroughly 
even  to  himself,  for  there  can  be  no  question  that  he 
never  intended  the  Diary  to  be  seen  by  other  eyes  than 
his  own. 

It  is  these  confessions  which  give  the  book  its  chief 
charm  to  the  general  reader,  and  he  is  to  a  great  extent 
right  in  his  appreciation.  We  have  the  vivid  picture  of 
the  inner  life  of  a  man,  who  grew  almost  daily,  displayed 
in  all  completeness  before  our  eyes.  But  the  very  fulness 
of  detail  in  the  picture  staggers  us  so  that  in  the  end  we 
cannot  thoroughly  fathom  the  character  of  the  man,  and 
are  forced  in  trying  to  understand  it  to  catalogue  his 
characteristics  instead  of  painting  his  character.  Many 
of  these  characteristics  appear  to  be  antagonistic,  and  we 
must  leave  them  at  that.  The  one  point  that  is  written 
all  over  the  Diary  is  that  through  life  Pepys  was  in 
deadly  earnest.  Everything  he  did  was  done  thoroughly, 
whether  in  work  or  play,  and  Pepys  possessed  the  power 


INTRODUCTION 


of  putting  his  energetic  nature  into  everything  he  did, 
setting  aside  for  the  moment  that  which  immediately 
preceded  his  present  object.  He  is  generally  set  down  as 
a  common-place  man,  and  to  a  certain  extent  he  was  so, 
but  he  was  a  man  of  great  imagination  —  not  of  the 
higher  order,  for  he  was,  as  Coleridge  said,  "  a  pollard 
man — "  but  he  saw  into  the  very  heart  of  the  things 
around  him,  and  he  lived  with  keen  enjoyment  of  the 
life  that  was  before  him.  Of  no  man  could  it  be  said 
with  more  truth  that  nothing  human  was  alien  to  him. 
In  this  characteristic  is  constrained  his  power  of  drawing 
us  by  his  words,  however  much  we  may  disapprove  of 
some  of  his  actions.  The  superficial  reader,  being  thus 
shown  the  inner  recesses  of  the  writer's  soul,  is  apt  to 
take  up  a  superior  position  and  to  treat  the  Diarist  with  a 
contemptuous  judgment  as  inferior  to  himself,  but  this 
is  not  just. 

The  considerate  reader,  on  the  other  hand,  will  feel  a 
kind  of  awe  in  observing  the  workings  of  a  naked  soul, 
and  make  allowances,  for  there  is  a  certain  greatness  in 
the  transparent  truthfulness  of  the  man.  Really  the 
worst  point  in  the  confessions  is  that  in  most  cases  he 
has  no  word  of  regret  for  his  sins.  Having  said  so  much 
of  the  man  as  he  appears  in  the  Diary,  we  must  bear  in 
mind  that  these  confessions  form  but  a  portion  of  the 
book,  and  that  in  the  historical  portion  we  have  vivid 
pictures  of  the  many  incidents  in  which  he  took  a  promi- 
nent part  that  are  of  the  greatest  value,  such  as  the 
Coronation  of  Charles  II.,  the  Dutch  wars,  and  the  sad 
condition  of  the  Navy,  which  he  did  his  utmost  to  reform, 
the  devastating  progress  of  the  Plague,  during  which  he 


RED-LETTER    DAYS    OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

kept  to  his  work  while  others  fled  from  London,  as  well 
as  the  destruction  of  the  city  by  the  Fire,  to  suppress 
which  he  did  much. 

He  was  always  learning,  and  he  obtained  a  great  mass 
of  important  information  by  reason  of  his  remarkable 
power  of  Socratic  questioning.  By  the  side  of  such  in- 
stances of  a  noble  nature  the  foibles  of  vanity,  such  as 
pride  in  his  personal  appearance  and  his  fine  clothes,  sink 
into  insignificance. 

We  must  also  remember  that  after  all  the  particulars 
in  the  Diary  extend  over  only  ten  years  of  his  ever  active 
life.  There  is  no  doubt  that  these  have  given  him  his 
great  fame,  but  those  who  admire  the  man  for  the  great 
work  he  did  wish  it  to  be  known  that  while  they  will 
give  place  to  none  in  appreciation  of  the  value  and  charm 
of  the  Diary,  they  will  not  rest  until  they  have  made  the 
general  public  thoroughly  understand  that  this  man,  who 
has  often  been  treated  with  scant  respect  on  account  of 
our  knowing  certain  discreditable  facts  of  his  life,  through 
his  own  confessions  only,  was  a  really  great  man,  and  a 
patriot  who  should  be  held  in  honour  by  all  Englishmen 
for  what  he  did  of  permanent  importance.  If  we  set 
down  a  few  of  the  facts  in  Pepys's  life  we  shall  be  able  to 
appreciate  the  man  as  he  was  known  to  those  around 
him  in  the  world  he  lived  in. 

He  went  into  the  Navy  Office  with  no  knowledge  of 
ships  individually  or  of  the  Navy  as  a  whole,  and  in  a 
few  years  he  had  become  "  the  right  hand  of  the  Navy  " 
(as  Monck,  Duke  of  Albemarle,  called  him),  who  not 
only  knew  more  of  administration  than  all  the  other 
officers  put  together  (some  of  these  being  brilliantly  sue- 


INTRODUCTION 


cessful  admirals  of  distinction),  but  knew  how  to  carry 
on  his  business  in  the  best  possible  manner  and  with  no 
small  success.  Pepys  was  really  an  historical  character 
of  the  first  rank,  for  he  figured  in  all  the  most  important 
scenes  that  occurred  during  his  official  life,  first  as  Clerk 
of  the  Acts,  and  afterwards  in  the  more  responsible  post 
of  Secretary  to  the  Admiralty.  He  was  at  work  in  that 
dark  hour  when  the  Dutch  were  in  the  Medway,  and  he 
was  among  the  few  who  did  well  in  that  time  of  national 
humiliation.  He  suffered  during  the  "  terror "  of  the 
Popish  Plot,  being  sent  to  the  Tower,  but  he  collected 
such  overwhelming  evidence  of  his  innocence  that  he 
covered  his  influential  enemies  with  confusion,  and  his 
defence  was  so  complete  that  he  was  ordered  to  be  set 
free  without  a  trial. 

His  last  great  work  was  to  reform  the  Navy,  which 
owing  to  his  absence  from  the  Admiralty  had  been 
brought  into  a  dangerous  condition  by  an  incompetent 
Commission.  All  these  labours  won  for  Pepys  the  esteem 
and  respect  of  those  who  knew  him  and  were  competent 
to  judge. 

When,  however,  the  Revolution  took  place  he  was 
suspected  as  a  Jacobite,  and  was  sent  to  the  Gatehouse  at 
Westminster,  but  he  was  bailed  out  of  prison  by  friends 
of  importance,  never  to  be  troubled  again. 

When  the  Diary  was  first  published  in  1825  (after  hav- 
ing remained  in  MS.  shorthand  nearly  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years),  the  fame  of  Pepys's  patriotic  work  of  a  life- 
time had  rather  faded  out  of  general  knowledge,  and  few 
particulars  of  his  life  were  available.  Now  much  has 
been  recovered  by  various  enthusiastic  workers,  and  we 


RED-LETTER    DAYS    OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

can  construct  a  fairly  complete  account  of  the  particulars 
of  his  life. 

Besides  all  his  work  at  the  Admiralty,  Pepys  found 
time  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Royal  Society  (of 
which  great  Society  he  became  the  President)  and  to 
collect  many  objects  of  interest,  which  with  his  fine 
library  are  preserved  at  Magdalene  College,  Cambridge. 

He  was  a  great  man  who  did  good  work  for  his  country 
in  difficult  times,  and  has  laid  us  all  under  great  obliga- 
tions by  what  he  has  left  us. 

H.  B.  WHEATLEY. 


Red-Letter   Days  of  Samuel 
Pepys 


MR.   PEPYS   BEGINS   HIS  DIARY 

January,  1659-60. 

Blessed  be  God,  at  the  end  of  the  last  year,  I  was  in 
very  good  health,  without  any  sense  of  my  old  pain,  but 
upon  taking  of  cold.1  I  lived  in  Axe  Yard,  having  my 
wife,  and  servant  Jane,  and  no  other  in  family  than  us 
three. 

The  condition  of  the  State  was  thus:  viz.,  the  Rump, 
after  being  disturbed  by  my  Lord  Lambert,  was  lately 
returned  to  sit  again.  The  officers  of  the  Army  all 
forced  to  yield.  Lawson  lies  still  in  the  river,  and  Monk 
is  with  his  army  in  Scotland.  Only  my  Lord  Lambert 
is  not  yet  come  into  the  Parliament,  nor  is  it  expected 
that  he  will,  without  being  forced  to  it.  The  new 
Common  Council  of  the  City  do  speak  very  high  ;  and 
had  sent  to  Monk,  their  sword-bearer,  to  acquaint  him 

1  On  March  26,  1658,  Pepys  had  been  successfully  cut  for  the  stone  ; 
malady  which  seems  to  have'affected  several  other  members  of  his  family. 
B  I 


RED-LETTER   DAYS    OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

with  their  desires  for  a  free  and  full  Parliament,  which  is 
at  present  the  desires,  and  the  hopes,  and  the  expectations 
of  all :  twenty-two  of  the  old  secluded  members  having 
been  at  the  House-door  the  last  week  to  demand 
entrance,  but  it  was  denied  them  ;  and  it  is  believed 
that  neither  they  nor  the  people  will  be  satisfied  till 
the  House  be  filled.  My  own  private  condition  very 
handsome,  and  esteemed  rich,  but  indeed  very  poor ; 
besides  my  goods  of  my  house,  and  my  office,  which 
at  present  is  somewhat  certain.  Mr.  Downing  master 
of  my  office. 


MR.   AND   MRS.    PEPYS 


MR.   AND   MRS.   PEPYS 

August  1 8,  1660. 

Towards  Westminster  by  water.  I  landed  my  wife  at 
Whitefriars,  with  ^5  to  buy  her  a  petticoat,  and  my  father 
persuaded  her  to  buy  a  most  fine  cloth,  of  265.  a  yard, 
and  a  rich  lace,  that  the  petticoat  will  come  to  ^5  ;  but 
she  doing  it  very  innocently,  I  could  not  be  angry. 

November  4,  1660. 

My  wife  seemed  very  pretty  to-day,  it  being  the  first 
time  I  had  given  her  leave  to  weare  a  black  patch. 

November  15,  1660. 

My  Lord  did  this  day  show  me  the  King's  picture 
which  was  done  in  Flanders,  that  the  King  did  promise 
my  Lord  before  he  ever  saw  him,  and  that  we  did  expect 
to  have  had  at  sea  before  the  King  come  to  us ;  but  it 
come  but  to-day,  and  indeed  it  is  the  most  pleasant  and 
the  most  like  him  that  ever  I  saw  picture  in  my  life. 
As  dinner  was  coming  on  table,  my  wife  came  to  my 
Lord's,  and  I  got  her  carried  in  to  my  Lady,  who  was 
just  now  hiring  of  a  French  maid  that  was  with  her,  and 

3 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

[they]  could  not  understand  one  another  till  my  wife 
come  to  interpret.  Here  I  did  leave  my  wife  to  dine 
with  my  Lord,  the  first  time  he  did  ever  take  notice  of 
her  as  my  wife,  and  did  seem  to  have  a  just  esteem 
for  her. 

December  2,  1600. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  church,  and  Mr.  Mills  made  a  good 
sermon  :  so  home  to  dinner.  My  wife  and  I  all  alone  to 
a  leg  of  mutton,  the  sawce  of  which  being  made  sweet, 
I  was  angry  at  it,  and  eat  none,  but  only  dined  upon  the 
marrow-bone  that  we  had  beside. 

March  n,  1661. 

After  dinner  I  went  to  the  Theatre,  and  there  saw 
"  Love's  Mistress  "  done  by  them,  which  I  do  not  like 
in  some  things  as  well  as  their  acting  in  Salisbury  Court. 
My  wife  come  home,  and  she  had  got  her  teeth  new 
done  by  La  Roche,  and  are  indeed  now  pretty  handsome, 
and  I  was  much  pleased  with  it. 

May  5,  1661. 

To  supper  in  the  banquet-house,  and  there  my  wife 
and  I  did  talk  high,  she  against  and  I  for  Mrs.  Pierce 
(that  she  was  a  beauty),  till  we  were  both  angry.  Then 
to  walk  in  the  fields,  and  so  to  our  quarters,  and  to  bed. 

June  9,  1 66 1. 

(Lord's  day.)  This  day  my  wife  put  on  her  black 
silk  gown,  which  is  now  laced  all  over  with  black  gimp 

4 


MR.   AND   MRS.    PEPYS 


lace,  as  the  fashion  is,  in  which  she  is  very  pretty.  She 
and  I  walked  to  my  Lady's  at  the  Wardrobe,  and  there 
dined,  and  was  exceeding  much  made  of. 

September  1 8,  1 66 1. 

Up  early,  and  begun  our  march  ;  the  way  about 
Puckridge  very  bad,  and  my  wife,  in  the  very  last 
dirty  place  of  all,  got  a  fall,  but  no  hurt,  though  some 
dirt.  At  last,  she  begun,  poor  wretch,  to  be  tired,  and 
I  to  be  angry  at  it,  but  I  was  to  blame  ;  for  she  is 
a  very  good  companion  as  long  as  she  is  well.  In  the 
afternoon,  we  got  to  Cambridge,  where  I  left  my  wife 
at  my  cozen  Angier's,  while  I  went  to  Christ's  College, 
and  there  found  my  brother  in  his  chamber,  and  talked 
with  him,  and  so  to  the  barber's  and  then  to  my  wife 
again,  and  remounted  for  Impington,  where  my  uncle 
received  me  and  my  wife  very  kindly. 

January  i  1661-62. 

Waking  this  morning  out  of  my  sleep  on  a  sudden,  I 
did  with  my  elbow  hit  my  wife  a  great  blow  over  her 
face  and  neck,  which  waked  her  with  pain,  at  which  I 
was  sorry,  and  to  sleep  again. 

March  2,  1662. 

(Lord's  day.)  Talking  long  in  bed  with  my  wife, 
about  our  frugall  life  for  the  time  to  come,  proposing  to 
her  what  I  could  and  would  do,  if  I  were  worth  ^2000, 
that  is,  be  a  knight,  and  keep  my  coach,  which  pleased  her. 
To  church  in  the  morning :  none  in  the  pew  but  myself. 

5 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

March  24,  1662. 

Comes  La  Belle  Pierce  to  see  my  wife,  and  to  bring 
her  a  pair  of  peruques  of  hair  as  the  fashion  now  is  for 
ladies  to  wear  ;  which  are  pretty,  and  are  of  my  wife's 
own  hair,  or  else  I  should  not  endure  them. 

December  19,  1662. 

Home,  a  little  displeased  with  my  wife,  who,  poor 
wretch,  is  troubled  with  her  lonely  life,  which  I  know 
not  how,  without  great  charge,  to  help  as  yet,  but  I  will 
study  how  to  do  it. 

January  6,  1662-63. 

Home,  and  found  all  well,  only  myself  somewhat 
vexed  at  my  wife's  neglect  in  leaving  of  her  scarfe, 
waistcoate,  and  night-dressings  in  the  coach,  to-day, 
that  brought  us  from  Westminster ;  though,  I  confess, 
she  did  give  them  to  me  to  look  after.  It  might  be  as 
good  as  255.  loss. 

January  28,  1662-63. 

My  wife  come  home,  and  seeming  to  cry  ;  for, 
bringing  home  in  a  coach  her  new  ferrandin  waistecoate, 
in  Cheapside,  a  man  asked  her  whether  that  was  the 
way  to  the  Tower  ;  and,  while  she  was  answering  him, 
another,  on  the  other  side,  snatched  away  her  bundle  out 
of  her  lap,  and  could  not  be  recovered,  but  ran  away 
with  it,  which  vexes  me  cruelly,  but  it  cannot  be 
helped. 

6 


MR.   AND   MRS.    PEPYS 


June  25,  1663. 

This  noon  I  received  a  letter  from  the  country  from 
my  wife,  wherein  she  seems  much  pleased  with  the 
country :  God  continue,  that  she  may  have  pleasure 
while  she  is  there.  She  by  my  Lady's  advice  desires  a 
new  petticoat  of  the  new  silk  striped  stuff — very  pretty. 
So  I  went  to  Pater  Noster  Row  presently,  and  bought 
her  a  very  fine  rich  one — the  best  I  did  see  there,  and 
much  better  than  she  desires  or  expects. 

January  15,  1663—64. 

My  wife  tells  me  that  my  uncle  Wight  hath  been 
with  her,  and  played  at  cards  with  her,  and  is  mightily 
inquisitive  to  know  whether  she  is  with  child  or  no, 
which  makes  me  wonder  what  his  meaning  is,  and  after 
all  my  thoughts,  I  cannot  think,  unless  it  be  in  order  to 
the  making  his  will ;  and  I  would  to  God  my  wife  had 
told  him  that  she  was  ! 

February  2,  1663-64. 

To  the  'Change,  and  thence  off  to  the  Sun  Taverne 
with  Sir  W.  Warren.  He  did  give  me  a  pair  of  gloves 
for  my  wife  wrapt  up  in  a  paper,  which  I  would  not 
open,  feeling  it  hard  ;  but  did  tell  him  that  my  wife 
should  thank  him,  and  so  went  on  in  discourse.  When 
I  come  home,  Lord  !  in  what  pain  I  was  to  get  my  wife 
out  of  the  room  without  bidding  her  go,  that  I  might 
see  what  these  gloves  were  ;  and,  by  and  by,  she  being 
gone,  it  proves  a  pair  of  white  gloves  for  her,  and  forty 
pieces  in  good  gold,  which  did  so  cheer  my  heart,  that 

7 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

I  could  eat  no  victuals  almost  for  dinner.  I  was  at  a 
great  loss  what  to  do,  whether  to  tell  my  wife  of  it  or 
no,  for  fear  of  making  her  think  me  to  be  in  a  better 
condition,  or  in  a  better  way  of  getting  money,  than  yet 
I  am. 

February  6,  1663-64. 

Home,  whither  come  one  Father  Fogourdy,  an  Irish 
priest,  of  my  wife's  and  her  mother's  acquaintance  in 
France — a  sober  and  discreet  person,  but  one  that  I 
would  not  have  converse  with  my  wife  for  fear  of 
meddling  with  her  religion.  He  confirms  to  me  the 
news  that  for  certain  there  is  peace  made  between  the 
Pope  and  King  of  France. 

March  28,  1664. 

Home,  and  there  find,  by  my  wife,  that  Father 
Fogourdy  hath  been  with  her  to-day,  and  she  is  mightily 
for  our  going  to  hear  a  famous  Roul£  preach  at  the 
French  Ambassador's  house :  I  pray  God  he  do  not 
tempt  her  in  any  matters  of  religion,  which  troubles 
me.  And  also,  she  had  messages  from  her  mother  to- 
day, who  sent  for  her  old  morning-gown,  which  was 
almost  past  wearing ;  and  I  used  to  call  it  her  kingdom, 
from  the  ease  and  content  she  used  to  have  in  the 
wearing  of  it.  I  am  glad  I  do  not  hear  of  her  begging 
any  thing  of  more  value. 

August  23,  1664. 

Talking  with  my  wife,  and  angry  about  her  desiring 
8 


MR.   AND    MRS.    PEPYS 


to  have  a  French  maid  all  of  a  sudden,  which  I  took  to 
arise  from  yesterday's  being  with  her  mother.  But  that 
went  over,  and  so  she  be  well  qualified,  I  care  not  much 
whether  she  be  French  or  no,  so  a  Protestant. 

September  3,  1664. 

I  have  had  a  bad  night's  rest  to-night,  not  sleeping 
well,  as  my  wife  observed ;  and  I  thought  myself  to  be 
mightily  bit  with  fleas,  and  in  the  morning  she  chid  her 
maids  for  not  looking  the  fleas  a*  days.  But,  when  I 
rose,  I  found  that  it  is  only  the  change  of  the  weather 
from  hot  to  cold,  which,  as  I  was  two  winters  ago,  do 
stop  my  pores,  and  so  my  blood  tingles  and  itches  all 
day,  all  over  my  body. 

February  21,  1664-65. 

My  wife  busy  in  going  with  her  woman  to  the  hot- 
house to  bathe  herself,  after  her  long  being  within  doors 
in  the  dirt,  so  that  she  now  pretends  to  a  resolution  of 
being  hereafter  very  clean.  How  long  it  will  hold  I 
can  guess. 

August  7,  1665. 

Talking  with  Mrs.  Pegg  Penn,  and  looking  over  her 
pictures,  and  commended  them  ;  but,  Lord  !  so  far  short 
of  my  wife's  as  no  comparison. 

May  4,  1666. 

To  Mr.  Hales,  to  see  what  he  had  done  to  Mrs. 
Pierce's  picture,  and  whatever  he  pretends,  I  do  not  think 

9 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

it  will  ever  be  so  good  a  picture  as  my  wife's.  Thence 
home  to  dinner,  and  had  a  great  fray  with  my  wife 
about  Browne's  coming  to  teach  her  to  paint,  and 
sitting  with  me  at  table,  which  I  will  not  yield  to. 
I  do  thoroughly  believe  she  means  no  hurt  in  it ;  but 
very  angry  we  were,  and  I  resolved  all  into  my  having 
my  will  done,  without  disputing,  be  the  reason  what  it 
will ;  and  so  I  will  have  it.  This  evening,  being  weary 
of  my  late  idle  courses,  I  bound  myself  to  very  strict 
rules  till  Whitsunday  next. 

May  9,  1666. 

To  White  Hall,  and  heard  the  Duke  commend 
Deane's  ship,  "The  Rupert,"  before  "The  Defyance," 
built  by  Castle,  in  hearing  of  Sir  W.  Batten,  which 
pleased  me  mightily.  To  Pierce's,  where  I  find  Knipp. 
Thence  with  them  to  Cornhill,  to  call  and  choose  a 
chimneypiece  for  Pierce's  closet.  My  wife  mightily 
vexed  at  my  being  abroad  with  these  women ;  and, 
when  they  were  gone,  called  them  I  know  not 
what,  which  vexed  me,  having  been  so  innocent  with 
them. 

August  12,  1666. 

(Lord's  day.)  I  and  my  wife  up  to  her  closet,  to 
examine  her  kitchen  accounts,  and  there  I  took  occasion 
to  fall  out  with  her,  for  her  buying  a  laced  handkercher 
and  pinner  without  my  leave.  From  this  we  began  both 
to  be  angry,  and  so  continued  till  bed. 

10 


MR.   AND    MRS.    PEPYS 


February  25,  1666-67. 

Lay  long  in  bed,  talking  with  pleasure  with  my  poor 
wife,  how  she  used  to  make  coal  fires,  and  wash  my  foul 
clothes  with  her  own  hand  for  me,  poor  wretch  !  in  our 
little  room  at  my  Lord  Sandwich's ;  for  which  I  ought 
for  ever  to  love  and  admire  her,  and  do ;  and  persuade 
myself  she  would  do  the  same  thing  again,  if  God  should 
reduce  us  to  it. 

March  22,  1667. 

My  wife  having  dressed  herself  in  a  silly  dress  of  a 
blue  petticoat  uppermost,  and  a  white  satin  waistcoat 
and  white  hood,  though  I  think  she  did  it  because  her 
gown  is  gone  to  the  tailor's,  did,  together  with  my  being 
hungry,  which  always  makes  me  peevish,  make  me 
angry. 

May  u,  1667. 

My  wife  being  dressed  this  day  in  fair  hair  did  make 
me  so  mad,  that  I  spoke  not  one  word  to  her,  though  I 
was  ready  to  burst  with  anger.  After  that,  Creed  and  I 
into  the  Park,  and  walked,  a  most  pleasant  evening, 
and  so  took  coach,  and  took  up  my  wife,  and  in  my 
way  home  discovered  my  trouble  to  my  wife  for  her 
white  locks,  swearing  several  times,  which  I  pray  God 
forgive  me  for,  and  bending  my  fist,  that  I  would  not 
endure  it.  She,  poor  wretch,  was  surprized  with  it, 
and  made  me  no  answer  all  the  way  home  ;  but  there 
we  parted,  and  I  to  the  office  late,  and  then  home,  and 
without  supper  to  bed,  vexed. 

ii 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

May  12,  1667. 

(Lord's  day.)  Up,  and  to  my  chamber,  to  settle  some 
accounts  there,  and  by  and  by  down  comes  my  wife  to 
me  in  her  night-gown,  and  we  begun  calmly,  that,  upon 
having  money  to  lace  her  gown  for  second  mourning,  she 
would  promise  to  wear  white  locks  no  more  in  my 
sight,  which  I,  like  a  severe  fool,  thinking  not  enough, 
begun  to  except  against,  and  made  her  fly  out  to  very 
high  terms  and  cry,  and  in  her  heat,  told  me  of  keeping 
company  with  Mrs.  Knipp,  saying,  that  if  I  would 
promise  never  to  see  her  more — of  whom  she  hath  more 
reason  to  suspect  than  I  had  heretofore  of  Pembleton — 
she  would  never  wear  white  locks  more.  This  vexed 
me,  but  I  restrained  myself  from  saying  any  thing,  but 
do  think  never  to  see  this  woman — at  least,  to  have  her 
here  more  ;  and  so  all  very  good  friends  as  ever.  My 
wife  and  I  bethought  ourselves  to  go  to  a  French  house 
to  dinner,  and  so  enquired  out  Monsieur  Robins,  my 
perriwigg-maker,  who  keeps  an  ordinary,  and  in  an  ugly 
street  in  Covent  Garden,  did  find  him  at  the  door,  and 
so  we  in  ;  and  in  a  moment  almost  had  the  table  covered, 
and  clean  glasses,  and  all  in  the  French  manner,  and  a 
mess  of  potage  first,  and  then  a  piece  of  bceuf-a-la-mode, 
all  exceeding  well  seasoned,  and  to  our  great  liking ;  at 
least  it  would  have  been  anywhere  else  but  in  this  bad 
street,  and  in  a  perriwigg-maker's  house ;  but  to  see  the 
pleasant  and  ready  attendance  that  we  had,  and  all  things 
so  desirous  to  please,  and  ingenious  in  the  people,  did 
take  me  mightily.  Our  dinner  cost  us  6s.  Walked  over 
the  fields  to  Kingsland,  and  back  again  ;  a  walk,  I  think, 

12 


MR.    AND    MRS.    PEPYS 


I  have  not  taken  these  twenty  years  ;  but  puts  me  in  mind 
of  my  boy's  time,  when  I  boarded  at  Kingsland,  and 
used  to  shoot  with  my  bow  and  arrows  in  these  fields. 
A  very  pretty  place  it  is  ;  and  little  did  any  of  my 
friends  think  I  should  come  to  walk  in  these  fields  in  this 
condition  and  state  that  I  am.  Then  took  coach  again, 
and  home  through  Shoreditch;  and  at  home  my  wife 
finds  Barker  to  have  been  abroad,  and  telling  her  so 
many  lies  about  it,  that  she  struck  her,  and  the  wench 
said  she  would  not  stay  with  her  :  so  I  examined  the 
wench,  and  found  her  in  so  many  lies  myself,  that  I  was 
glad  to  be  rid  of  her,  and  so  resolved  having  her  go 
away  to-morrow. 

May  29,  1667. 

My  wife  comes  home  from  Woolwich,  but  did  not 
dine  with  me,  going  to  dress  herself  against  night,  to  go 
to  Mrs.  Pierce's  to  be  merry,  where  we  are  to  have 
Knipp  and  Harris  and  other  good  people.  I  at  my 
accounts.  Anon  comes  down  my  wife,  dressed  in  her 
second  mourning,  with  her  black  moyre  waistcoat,  and 
short  petticoat,  laced  with  silver  lace  so  basely  that  I 
could  not  endure  to  see  her,  and  with  laced  lining,  which 
is  too  soon,  so  that  I  was  horrid  angry,  and  would  not 
go  to  our  intended  meeting,  which  vexed  me  to  the 
blood,  and  my  wife  sent  twice  or  thrice  to  me,  to  direct 
her  any  way  to  dress  her,  but  to  put  on  her  cloth  gown, 
which  she  would  not  venture,  which  made  me  mad  :  and 
so  in  the  evening  to  my  chamber,  vexed,  and  to  my 
accounts,  which  I  ended  to  my  great  content,  and  did 

'3 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL  PEPYS 

make  amends  for  the  loss  of  our  mirth  this  night,  by 
getting  this  done. 

December  30,  1667. 

To  the  King's  playhouse,  there  to  see  "Love's 
Cruelty,"  an  old  play,  but  which  I  have  not  seen  before ; 
and  in  the  first  act  Orange  Moll  come  to  me,  with  one 
of  our  porters  by  my  house,  to  tell  me  Mrs.  Pierce  and 
Knipp  did  dine  at  my  house  to-day,  and  that  I  was 
desired  to  come  home.  So  I  went  out  presently,  and 
by  coach  home,  and  they  were  gone  away  :  so,  after  a 
very  little  stay  with  my  wife,  I  took  coach  again,  and  to 
the  King's  playhouse  again,  and  come  in  the  fourth  act  ; 
and  it  proves  to  me  a  very  silly  play,  and  to  everybody 
else,  as  far  as  I  could  judge.  But  the  jest  is,  that  here 
telling  Moll  how  I  had  lost  my  journey,  she  told  me 
that  Mrs.  Knipp  was  in  the  house,  and  so  shows  me  to 
her,  and  I  went  to  her,  and  sat  out  the  play,  and  then 
with  her  to  Mrs.  Manuel's,  where  Mrs.  Pierce  was,  and 
her  boy  and  girl ;  and  here  I  did  hear  Mrs.  Manuel  and 
one  of  the  Italians,  her  gallant,  sing  well.  But  yet  I 
confess  I  am  not  delighted  so  much  with  it,  as  to  admire 
it  :  for,  not  understanding  the  words,  I  lose  the  benefit 
of  the  vocalitys  of  the  musick,  and  it  proves  only  instru- 
mental ;  and  theretore  was  more  pleased  to  hear  Knipp 
sing  two  or  three  little  English  things  that  I  understood, 
though  the  composition  of  the  other,  and  performance, 
was  very  fine.  Thence  to  my  bookseller's,  and  paid  for 
the  books  I  had  bought,  and  away  home,  where  I  told  my 
wife  where  I  had  been.  But  she  was  as  mad  as  a  devil,  and 


MR.    AND    MRS.    PEPYS 


nothing  but  ill  words  between  us  all  the  evening  while 
we  sat  at  cards — W.  Hewer  and  the  girl  by — even  to 
gross  ill  words,  which  I  was  troubled  for.  But  I  do  see 
that  I  must  use  policy  to  keep  her  spirit  down,  and  to 
give  her  no  offence  by  my  being  with  Knipp  and  Pierce, 
of  which,  though  she  will  not  own  it,  yet  she  is  heartily 
jealous. 

January  2,  1667-68. 

This  day  my  wife  shews  me  a  locket  of  dyamonds 
worth  about  ^40,  which  W.  Hewer  do  press  her  to 
accept,  and  hath  done  for  a  good  while,  out  of  gratitude 
for  my  kindness  and  her's  to  him.  But  I  do  not  like 
that  she  should  receive  it,  it  not  being  honourable  for  me 
to  do  it ;  and  so  do  desire  her  to  force  him  to  take  it 
back  again,  he  leaving  it  against  her  will  yesterday  with 
her.  And  she  did  this  evening  force  him  to  take  it  back, 
at  which  she  says  he  is  troubled  :  but,  however,  it 
becomes  me  more  to  refuse  it,  than  to  let  her  accept 
of  it. 

February  18,  1667-68. 

Up  to  my  wife,  not  owning  my  being  at  a  play,  and 
there  she  shows  me  her  ring  of  a  Turky-stone  [turquoise], 
set  with  little  sparks  of  dyamonds,  which  I  am  to  give 
her,  as  my  Valentine,  and  I  am  not  much  troubled  at  it. 
It  will  cost  me  near  ^5 — she  costing  me  but  little  com- 
pared with  other  wives,  and  I  have  not  many  occasions 
to  spend  money  on  her. 

15 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

February  23,  1667-68. 

This  evening,  my  wife  did  with  great  pleasure  show 
me  her  stock  of  Jewells,  encreased  by  the  ring  she  hath 
made  lately  as  my  Valentine's  gift  this  year,  a  Turky 
stone  set  with  diamonds  :  and,  with  this  and  what  she 
had,  she  reckons  that  she  hath  above  £150  worth  of 
Jewells,  of  one  kind  or  other  ;  and  I  am  glad  of  it,  for  it 
is  fit  the  wretch  should  have  something  to  content 
herself  with. 

January  3,  1668-69. 

Home  ;  and  to  supper  and  read  ;  and  there  my  wife 
and  I  treating  about  coming  to  an  allowance  to  her  for 
clothes ;  and  there  I,  out  of  my  natural  backwardness, 
did  hang  off,  which  vexed  her,  and  did  occasion  some 
discontented  talk  in  bed,  when  we  went  to  bed  ;  and 
also  in  the  morning,  but  I  did  recover  all. 

January  4,  1668-69. 

Talking  with  my  wife,  and  did  of  my  own  accord 
come  to  an  allowance  of  her  of  ^30  a-year  for  all 
expences,  clothes  and  everything,  which  she  was  mightily 
pleased  with,  it  being  more  than  ever  she  asked  or  ex- 
pected, and  so  rose,  with  much  content. 

January  10,  1668-69. 

(Lord's  day.)  Accidentally  talking  of  our  maids  before 
we  rose,  I  said  a  little  word  that  did  give  occasion  to  my 
wife  to  fall  out ;  and  she  did  most  excessively,  almost  all 
the  morning,  but  ended  most  perfect  good  friends  ;  but 

16 


MR.   AND   MRS.   PEPYS 


the  thoughts  of  the  unquiet  which  her  ripping  up  of 
old  faults  will  give  me,  did  make  me  melancholy  all 
day  long. 

January  12,  1668-69. 

This  evening  I  observed  my  wife  mighty  dull,  and  I 
myself  was  not  mighty  fond,  because  of  some  hard 
words  she  did  give  me  at  noon,  out  of  a  jealousy  at 
my  being  abroad  this  morning,  which,  God  knows, 
it  was  upon  the  business  of  the  Office  unexpectedly : 
but  I  to  bed,  not  thinking  but  she  would  come  after  me. 
But  waking  by  and  by,  out  of  a  slumber,  which  I 
usually  fall  into  presently  after  my  coming  into  the  bed, 
I  found  she  did  not  prepare  to  come  to  bed,  but  got 
fresh  candles,  and  more  wood  for  her  fire,  it  being 
mighty  cold,  too.  At  this  being  troubled,  I  after  a  while 
prayed  her  to  come  to  bed  ;  so,  after  an  hour  or  two, 
she  silent,  and  I  now  and  then  praying  her  to  come  to 
bed,  she  fell  out  into  a  fury,  that  I  was  a  rogue,  and 
false  to  her.  I  did,  as  I  might  truly,  deny  it,  and  was 
mightily  troubled,  but  all  would  not  serve.  At  last, 
about  one  o'clock,  she  come  to  my  side  of  the  bed,  and 
drew  my  curtaine  open,  and  with  the  tongs  red  hot  at 
the  ends,  made  as  if  she  did  design  to  pinch  me  with 
them,  at  which,  in  dismay,  I  rose  up,  and  with  a  few 
words  she  laid  them  down  ;  and  did  by  little  and  little, 
very  sillily,  let  all  the  discourse  fall  ;  and  about  two,  but 
with  much  seeming  difficulty,  come  to  bed,  and  there 
lay  well  all  night,  and  long  in  bed  talking  together,  with 
much  pleasure,  it  being,  I  know,  nothing  but  her  doubt 
c  17 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

of  my  going  out  yesterday,  without  telling  her  of  my 
going,  which  did  vex  her,  poor  wretch  !  last  night,  and 
I  cannot  blame  her  jealousy,  though  it  do  vex  me  to  the 
heart. 

February  2,  1668-69. 

My  wife  in  mighty  ill  humour  all  night,  and  in  the 
morning  I  found  it  to  be  from  her  observing  Knipp  to 
wink  and  smile  on  me,  and  she  says  I  smiled  on  her  ; 
and,  poor  wretch  !  I  did  perceive  that  she  did,  and  do  on 
all  such  occasions,  mind  my  eyes.  I  did,  with  much 
difficulty,  pacify  her,  and  we  were  friends,  she  desiring 
that  hereafter,  at  that  house,  we  might  always  sit  either 
above  in  a  box,  or,  if  there  be  no  room,  close  up  to  the 
lower  box. 

February  7,  1668-69. 

(Lord's  day.)  I  up,  and  to  church,  and  so  home  to 
dinner,  where  my  wife  in  a  jealous  fit,  which  lasted  all 
the  afternoon,  and  shut  herself  up  in  her  closet,  and  I 
mightily  grieved  and  vexed,  and  could  not  get  her  to  tell 
me  what  ailed  her,  or  to  let  me  into  her  closet,  but  at 
last  she  did,  where  I  found  her  crying  on  the  ground, 
and  could  not  please  her  ;  but  at  last  find  that  she  did 
plainly  expound  it  to  me.  It  was,  that  she  did  believe 
me  false  to  her  with  Jane,  and  did  rip  up  three  or  four 
silly  circumstances  of  her  not  rising  till  I  come  out  of 
my  chamber,  and  her  letting  me  thereby  see  her  dressing 
herself ;  and  that  I  must  needs  go  into  her  chamber  ; 
which  was  so  silly,  and  so  far  from  truth,  that  I  could 

18 


MR.   AND    MRS.    PEPYS 


not  be  troubled  at  it,  though  I  could  not  wonder  at  her 
being  troubled,  if  she  had  these  thoughts.  At  last,  I  did 
give  her  such  satisfaction,  that  we  were  mighty  good 
friends. 

May  1 8,  1669. 

Dined  in  my  wife's  chamber,  she  being  much  troubled 
with  the  tooth-ake,  and  I  staid  till  a  surgeon  of  hers 
come,  one  Leeson,  who  had  formerly  drawn  her  mouth, 
and  he  advised  her  to  draw  it  :  so  I  to  the  Office,  and  by 
and  by  word  is  come  that  she  hath  drawn  it,  which 
pleased  me,  it  being  well  done.  So  I  home,  to  comfort 
her. 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 


MR.   PEPYS'S  AMUSEMENTS 

April  9,  1 66 1. 

The  sale1  being  done,  the  ladies  and  I,  and  Captain 
Pitt,  and  Mr.  Castle  took  barge,  and  down  we  went  to 
see  the  Sovereigne,  which  we  did,  taking  great  pleasure 
therein,  singing  all  the  way,  and  among  other  pleasures, 
I  put  my  Lady,  Mrs.  Turner,  Mrs.  Hempson,  and  the 
two  Mrs.  Aliens,  into  the  lanthorn,  and  I  went  in  and 
kissed  them,  demanding  it  as  a  fee  due  to  a  principall 
officer,  with  all  which  we  were  exceeding  merry,  and 
drunk  some  bottles  of  wine,  and  neat's  tongue,  &c. 
Then  back  again  home,  and  so  supped,  and  after  much 
mirth,  to  bed. 

April  10,  1 66 1. 

To  the  Salutacione  tavern,  where  Mr.  Alcock  and 
many  of  the  towne  come  and  entertained  us  with  wine 
and  oysters  and  other  things,  and  hither  come  Sir  John 
Minnes  to  us,  who  is  come  to-day  from  London  to  see 
"the  Henery,"  in  which  he  intends  to  ride  as  Vice- 
Admiral  in  the  narrow  seas  all  this  summer.  Here 
much  mirth,  but  I  was  a  little  troubled  to  stay  too  long, 

1  Mr.  Pepys  had  been  attending  an  auction. — E.  F.  A. 
20 


MR.    PEPYS'S   AMUSEMENTS 


because  of  going  to  Hempson's,  which  afterwards  we  did, 
and  found  it  in  all  things  a  most  pretty  house,  and 
rarely  furnished,  only  it  had  a  most  ill  accesse  on  all 
sides  to  it,  which  is  a  greatest  fault  that,  I  think,  can  be 
in  a  house.  Here  we  had,  for  my  sake,  two  fiddles,  the 
one  a  base  viall,  on  which  he  that  played,  played  well 
some  lyra  lessons,  but  both  together  made  the  worst 
musique  that  ever  I  heard.  We  had  a  fine  collacion,  but 
I  took  little  pleasure  in  that,  for  the  illness  of  the  musique, 
and  for  the  intentnesse  of  my  mind  upon  Mrs.  Rebecca 
Allen.  After  we  had  done  eating,  the  ladies  went  to 
dance,  and  among  the  men  we  had,  I  was  forced  to 
dance,  too  ;  and  did  make  an  ugly  shift.  Mrs.  R.  Allen 
danced  very  well,  and  seems  the  best  humoured  woman 
that  ever  I  saw.  About  nine  o'clock  Sir  William  and 
my  Lady  went  home,  and  we  continued  dancing  an 
houre  or  two,  and  so  broke  up  very  pleasant  and  merry, 
and  so  walked  home,  I  leading  Mrs.  Rebecca,  who 
seemed,  I  know  not  why,  in  that  and  other  things,  to  be 
desirous  of  my  favours,  and  would  in  all  things  show  me 
respects.  Going  home,  she  would  needs  have  me  sing, 
and  I  did  pretty  well,  and  was  highly  esteemed  by  them. 
So  to  Captain  Allen's  (where  we  was  last  night,  and 
heard  him  play  on  the  harpischon,  and  I  find  him  to  be  a 
perfect  good  musician),  and  there,  having  no  mind  to 
leave  Mrs.  Rebecca,  I  did  what  with  talk  and  singing 
(her  father  and  I),  Mrs.  Turner  and  I  staid  there  till 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  was  most  exceeding 
merry,  and  I  had  the  opportunity  of  kissing  Mrs.  Rebecca 
very  often. 

21 


RED-LETTER    DAYS  OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

April  n,  1 66 1. 

At  two  o'clock,  with  very  great  mirth,  we  went  to 
our  lodging  and  to  bed,  and  lay  till  seven,  and  then 
called  up  by  Sir  W.  Batten  ;  so  I  rose,  and  we  did 
some  business,  and  then  come  Captain  Allen,  and  he 
and  I  withdrew,  and  sang  a  song  or  two,  and  among 
others,  took  great  pleasure  in  "  Goe  and  bee  hanged, 
that's  twice  good  bye."  The  young  ladies  come  too, 
and  so  I  did  again  please  myself  with  Mrs.  Rebecca  ; 
and  about  nine  o'clock,  after  we  had  breakfasted,  we 
sett  forth  for  London,  and  indeed  I  was  a  little 
troubled  to  part  with  Mrs.  Rebecca,  for  which  God 
forgive  me.  Thus  we  went  away  through  Rochester. 
We  baited  at  Dartford,  and  thence  to  London,  but  of  all 
the  journeys  that  ever  I  made,  this  was  the  merriest,  and 
I  was  in  a  strange  moode  for  mirth.  Among  other 
things,  I  got  my  Lady  to  let  her  mayd,  Mrs.  Anne,  to 
ride  all  the  way  on  horseback,  and  she  rides  exceeding 
well ;  and  so  I  called  [her]  my  clerk,  that  she  went 
to  wait  upon  me.  I  met  two  little  schoolboys  going 
with  pichers  of  ale  to  their  schoolmaster  to  break  up 
against  Easter,  and  I  did  drink  of  some  of  one  of  them, 
and  give  him  two-pence.  By  and  by,  we  come  to  two 
little  girls  keeping  cowes,  and  I  saw  one  of  them  very 
pretty,  so  I  had  a  mind  to  make  her  aske  my  blessing,  and 
telling  her  that  I  was  her  godfather,  she  asked  me  inno- 
cently whether  I  was  not  Ned  Warding,  and  I  said  that 
I  was,  so  she  kneeled  down,  and  very  simply  called,  "  Pray, 
godfather,  pray  to  God  to  bless  me,"  which  made  us 
very  merry,  and  I  gave  her  two-pence.  In  several  places, 

22 


MR.    PEPYS'S   AMUSEMENTS 


I  asked  women  whether  they  would  sell  me  their  children, 
but  they  denied  me  all,  but  said  they  would  give  me  one 
to  keep  for  them,  if  I  would.  Mrs.  Anne  and  I  rode 
under  the  man  that  hangs  upon  Shooter's  Hill,  and  a 
filthy  sight  it  was  to  see  how  his  flesh  is  shrunk  to  his 
bones.  So  home,  and  I  found  all  well,  and  a  good  deal 
of  work  done  since  I  went.  So  to  bed  very  sleepy  for 
last  night's  work,  concluding  that  it  is  the  pleasantest 
journey  in  all  respects  that  ever  I  had  in  my  life. 

February  17,  1661-62. 

This  morning,  both  Sir  Williams,  myself,  and  Captain 
Cocke,  and  Captain  Tinker  of  the  Convertine,  which  we 
are  going  to  look  upon,  (being  intended  [to  go]  with 
these  ships  fitting  for  the  East  Indys)  down  to  Deptford; 
and  thence,  after  being  on  ship-board,  to  Woolwich,  and 
there  eat  something.  The  Sir  Williams  being  unwilling 
to  eat  flesh,  Captain  Cock  and  I  had  a  breast  of  veale 
roasted.  Going  and  coming,  we  played  at  gleeke, 
and  I  won  95.  6d.  clear,  the  most  that  ever  I  won  in 
my  life.  I  pray  God  it  may  not  tempt  me  to  play 
again. 

June  i,  1663. 

The  Duke  having  been  a-hunting  to-day,  and  so  lately 
come  home  and  gone  to  bed,  we  could  not  see  him,  and 
we  walked  away.  And  I  with  Sir  J.  Minnes  to  the 
Strand  May-pole ;  and  there  light  out  of  his  coach,  and 
walked  to  the  New  Theatre,  which,  since  the  King's 
players  are  gone  to  the  Royal  one,  is  this  day  begun  to 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

be  employed  by  the  fencers  to  play  prizes  at.  And  here 
I  come  and  saw  the  first  prize  I  ever  saw  in  my  life  : 
and  it  was  between  one  Mathews,  who  did  beat  at  all 
weapons,  and  one  Westwicke,  who  was  soundly  cut 
several  times  both  in  the  head  and  legs,  that  he  was  all 
over  blood  :  and  other  deadly  blows  they  did  give  and 
take  in  very  good  earnest,  till  Westwicke  was  in  a  sad 
pickle.  They  fought  at  eight  weapons,  three  boutes  at 
each  weapon.  This  being  upon  a  private  quarrel,  they 
did  it  in  good  earnest ;  and  I  felt  one  of  their  swords,  and 
found  it  to  be  very  little,  if  at  all,  blunter  on  the  edge 
than  the  common  swords  are.  Strange  to  see  what  a 
deal  of  money  is  flung  to  them  both  upon  the  stage 
between  every  boute.  So,  well  pleased  for  once  with 
this  sight,  I  walked  home. 

December  21,  1663. 

To  Shoe  Lane,  to  see  a  cocke-fighting  at  a  new  pit 
there,  a  spot  I  was  never  at  in  my  life  :  but  Lord  !  to  see 
the  strange  variety  of  people,  from  Parliament  man,  by 
name  Wildes,  that  was  Deputy  Governor  of  the  Tower 
when  Robinson  was  Lord  Mayor,  to  the  poorest  'pren- 
tices, bakers,  brewers,  butchers,  draymen,  and  what  not ; 
and  all  these  fellows  one  with  another  cursing  and  betting. 
I  soon  had  enough  of  it.  It  is  strange  to  see  how  people 
of  this  poor  rank,  that  look  as  if  they  had  not  bread  to 
put  in  their  mouths,  shall  bet  three  or  four  pounds  at 
a  time,  and  lose  it,  and  yet  bet  as  much  the  next 
battle;  so  that  one  of  them  will  lose  10  or  £20  at  a 
meeting. 

24 


MR.    PEPYS'S   AMUSEMENTS 


September  2,  1664. 

To  Bartholomew  fayre,  and  our  boy  with  us,  and  there 
showed  them  and  myself  the  dancing  on  the  ropes,  and 
several  other  the  best  shows ;  but  pretty  it  is  to  see  how 
our  boy  carries  himself  so  innocently  clownish  as  would 
make  one  laugh.  Then  up  and  down,  to  buy  combes 
for  my  wife  to  give  her  maids. 

April  13,  1665. 

To  Sheriff  Waterman's,  to  dinner,  all  of  us  men  of  the 
office  in  town,  and  our  wives,  my  Lady  Carteret  and 
daughters,  and  Ladies  Batten,  Pen,  and  my  wife,  &c. 
Very  good  cheer  we  had,  and  merry  musique  at  and  after 
dinner,  and  a  fellow  danced  a  jigg  ;  but,  when  the  com- 
pany begun  to  dance,  I  come  away,  lest  I  should  be  taken 
out ;  and  God  knows  how  my  wife  carried  herself,  but  I 
left  her  to  try  her  fortune. 

August  14,  1666. 

After  dinner,  with  my  wife  and  Mercer  to  the  Beare 
Garden  ;  where  I  have  not  been,  I  think,  of  many  years, 
and  saw  some  good  sport  of  the  bull's  tossing  the  dogs — 
one  into  the  very  boxes.  But  it  is  a  very  rude  and  nasty 
pleasure.  We  had  a  great  many  hectors  in  the  same  box 
with  us,  and  one  very  fine  went  into  the  pit,  and  played 
his  dog  for  a  wager ;  which  was  a  strange  sport  for  a 
gentleman  ;  where  they  drank  wine,  and  drank  Mercer's 
health  first ;  which  I  pledged  with  my  hat  off.  We 
supped  at  home,  and  very  merry.  And  then  about  nine 
to  Mrs.  Mercer's  gate,  where  the  fire  and.  boys  expected 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

us,  and  her  son  had  provided  abundance  of  serpents  and 
rockets;  and  there  mighty  merry,  my  Lady  Pen  and  Pegg 
going  thither  with  us,  and  Nan  Wright,  till  about  twelve 
at  night,  flinging  our  fireworks,  and  burning  one  another, 
and  the  people  over  the  way.  And,  at  last,  our  business 
being  most  spent,  we  went  into  Mrs.  Mercer's,  and  there 
mighty  merry,  smutting  one  another  with  candle  grease 
and  soot,  till  most  of  us  were  like  devils.  And  that 
being  done,  then  we  broke  up,  and  to  my  house  ;  and 
there  I  made  them  drink,  and  upstairs  we  went,  and  then . 
fell  into  dancing,  W.  Batelier  dancing  well ;  and  dressing, 
him  and  I,  and  one  Mr.  Banister,  who,  with  my  wife, 
come  over  also  with  us,  like  women  ;  and  Mercer  put  on 
a  suit  of  Tom's,  like  a  boy,  and  mighty  mirth  we  had, 
and  Mercer  danced  a  jigg ;  and  Nan  Wright  and  my 
wife  and  Pegg  Pen  put  on  perriwigs.  Thus  we  spent 
till  three  or  four  in  the  morning,  mighty  merry ;  and 
then  parted,  and  to  bed. 

November  9,  1666. 

To  Mrs.  Pierce's,  by  appointment,  where  we  find 
good  company :  a  fair  lady,  my  Lady  Prettyman,  Mrs. 
Corbet,  Knipp r  ;  and  for  men,  Captain  Downing,  Mr. 
Lloyd,  Sir  W.  Coventry's  clerk,  and  one  Mr.  Tripp, 
who  dances  well.  After  our  first  bout  of  dancing,  Knipp 
and  I  to  sing,  and  Mercer  and  Captain  Downing,  who 
loves  and  understands  musick,  would  by  all  means  have 
my  song  of  "  Beauty,  retire  "  :  which  Knipp  had  spread 

1  Mrs,  Knipp  was  a  popular  actress  in  whom  Mr.  Pepys  showed  a  good 
deal  of  interest. — E.  F.  A. 

26 


MR.    PEPYS'S   AMUSEMENTS 


abroad,  and  he  extols  it  above  any  thing  he  ever  heard. 
Going  to  dance  again,  and  then  comes  news  that  White 
Hall  was  on  fire  ;  and  presently  more  particulars,  that  the 
Horse-guard  was  on  fire  ;  and  so  we  run  up  to  the  garret, 
and  find  it  so  ;  a  horrid  great  fire  ;  and  by  and  by  we  saw 
and  heard  part  of  it  blown  up  with  powder.  The  ladies 
begun  presently  to  be  afraid  :  one  fell  into  fits.  The 
whole  town  in  an  alarm.  Drums  beat  and  trumpets,  and 
the  Horse-guards  every  where  spread,  running  up  and 
down  in  the  street.  And  I  begun  to  have  mighty  appre- 
hensions how  things  might  be,  for  we  are  in  expectation 
from  common  fame,  this  night,  or  to-morrow,  to  have  a 
massacre,  by  the  having  so  many  fires  one  after  another, 
as  that  in  the  City,  and  at  same  time  begun  in  West- 
minster, by  the  Palace,  but  put  out  ;  and  since  in  South- 
warke,  to  the  burning  down  some  houses  ;  and  now  this 
do  make  all  people  conclude  there  is  something  extra- 
ordinary in  it  ;  but  nobody  knows  what.  By  and  by 
comes  news  that  the  fire  is  slackened  ;  so  then  we  were 
a  little  cheered  up  again,  and  to  supper,  and  pretty  merry. 
But,  above  all,  there  comes  in  the  dumb  boy  that  I  knew 
in  Oliver's  time,  who  is  mightily  acquainted  here,  and 
with  Downing  ;  and  he  made  strange  signs  of  the  fire, 
and  how  the  King  was  abroad,  and  many  things  they 
understood,  but  I  could  not,  which  I  wondered  at,  and 
discoursing  with  Downing  about  it,  "  Why,"  says  he,  "  it 
is  only  a  little  use,  and  you  will  understand  him,  and 
make  him  understand  you  with  as  much  ease  as  may  be." 
So  I  prayed  him  to  tell  him  that  I  was  afraid  that  my 
coach  would  be  gone,  and  that  he  should  go  down  and 

27 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

steal  one  of  the  seats  out  of  the  coach  and  keep  it,  and  that 
would  make  the  coachman  to  stay.  He  did  this,  so  that 
the  dumb  boy  did  go  down,  and,  like  a  cunning  rogue, 
went  into  the  coach,  pretending  to  sleep  ;  and,  by  and  by, 
fell  to  his  work,  but  finds  the  seats  nailed  to  the  coach. 
So  he  could  not  do  it ;  however,  stayed  there,  and  stayed 
the  coach  till  the  coachman's  patience  was  quite  spent, 
and  beat  the  dumb  boy  by  force,  and  so  went  away.  So 
the  dumb  boy  came  up,  and  told  him  all  the  story,  which 
they  below  did  see  all  that  passed,  and  knew  it  to  be  true. 
After  supper,  another  dance  or  two,  and  then  news  that 
the  fire  is  as  great  as  ever,  which  puts  us  all  to  our  wits'- 
end  ;  and  I  mightily  anxious  to  go  home,  but  the  coach 
being  gone,  and  it  being  about  ten  at  night,  and  rainy 
dirty  weather,  I  knew  not  whJfc  to  do ;  but  to  walk  out 
with  Mr.  Batelier,  myself  resolving  to  go  home  on  foot, 
and  leave  the  women  there.  And  so  did  ;  but  at  the 
Savoy  got  a  coach,  and  come  back  and  took  up  the 
women  ;  and  so,  having,  by  people  come  from  the  fire, 
understood  that  the  fire  was  overcome  and  all  well,  we 
merrily  parted,  and  home.  Stopped  by  several  guards 
and  constables  quite  through  the  town,  round  the  wall, 
as  we  went  all  being  in  arms.  Being  come  home,  we  to 
cards,  till  two  in  the  morning,  and  drinking  lamb's- 
wool.1  So  to  bed. 

May  27,  1667. 

Abroad,  and  stopped  at  Bear-garden  stairs,  there  to  see 

1  Lamb's-wool  is  a  vulgar  beverage  made  of  ale,  mixed  with  sugar,  nutmeg 
and  the  pulp  of  roasted  apples, 

28 


MR.    PEPYS'S  AMUSEMENTS 


a  prize  fought.  But  the  house  so  full  there  was  no  get- 
ting in  there,  so  forced  to  go  through  an  ale-house  into 
the  pit,  where  the  bears  are  baited  ;  and  upon  a  stool  did 
see  them  fight,  which  they  did  very  furiously,  a  butcher 
and  a  waterman.  The  former  had  the  better  all  along, 
till  by  and  by  the  latter  dropped  his  sword  out  of  his  hand, 
and  the  butcher,  whether  not  seeing  his  sword  dropped  I 
know  not,  but  did  give  him  a  cut  over  the  wrist,  so  as  he 
was  disabled  to  fight  any  longer.  But,  Lord  !  to  see  how 
in  a  minute  the  whole  stage  was  full  of  watermen  to 
revenge  the  foul  play,  and  the  butchers  to  defend  their 
fellow,  though  most  blamed  him  ;  and  there  they  all 
fell  to  it  to  knocking  down  and  cutting  many  on  each 
side.  It  was  pleasant  to  see,  but  that  I  stood  in  the  pit, 
and  feared  that  in  the  tumult  I  might  get  some  hurt. 
At  last  the  battle  broke  up,  and  so  I  away. 

July  21,  1667. 

(Lord's  day.)  I  and  my  wife  and  Mercer  up  by  water 
to  Barne  Elmes,  where  we  walked  by  moonshine,  and 
called  at  Lambeth,  and  drank  and  had  cold  meat  in  the 
boat,  and  did  eat  and  sang,  and  down  home,  by  almost 
twelve  at  night,  very  fine  and  pleasant,  only  could  not 
sing  ordinary  songs  with  the  freedom  that  otherwise  I 
would.  Here  Mercer  tells  me  that  the  pretty  maid  of 
the  Ship  tavern  is  married  there,  which  I  am  glad  of.  So 
having  spent  this  night,  with  much  serious  pleasure 
to  consider  that  I  am  in  condition  to  fling  away  an 
angell  in  such  a  refreshment  to  myself  and  family,  we  home 
and  to  bed,  leaving  Mercer,  by  the  way,  at  her  own  door. 

29 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

September  9,  1667. 

To  the  Bear-Garden,  where  now  the  yard  was  full  of 
people,  and  those  most  of  them  seamen,  striving  by  force 
to  get  in,  that  I  was  afraid  to  be  seen  among  them, 
but  got  into  the  ale-house,  and  so  by  a  back  way  was  put 
into  the  bull-house,  where  I  stood  a  good  while  all  alone 
among  the  bulls,  and  was  afraid  I  was  among  the  bears, 
too  ;  but  by  and  by  the  door  opened.  I  got  into  the 
common  pit ;  and  there,  with  my  cloak  about  my  face,  I 
stood  and  saw  the  prize  fought,  till  one  of  them,  a  shoe- 
maker, was  so  cut  in  both  his  wrists  that  he  could  not 
fight  any  longer,  and  then  they  broke  off:  his  enemy 
was  a  butcher.  The  sport  very  good,  and  various 
humours  to  be  seen  among  the  rabble  that  is  there. 


MR.    PEPYS    ON  ART 


MR.   PEPYS   ON   ART 

October  9,  1660. 

This  morning  Sir  W.  Batten  with  Colonel  Birch  to 
Deptford  to  pay  off  two  ships.  Sir  W.  Pen  and  I  staid 
to  do  business,  and  afterwards  together  to  White  Hall, 
where  I  went  to  my  Lord,  and  saw  in  his  chamber  his 
picture,  very  well  done ;  and  am  with  child  till  I 
get  it  copied  out,  which  I  hope  to  do  when  he  is 
gone  to  sea. 

October  22,  1660. 

All  preparing  for  my  Lord's  going  to  sea  to  fetch  the 
Queen  to-morrow.  At  night  my  Lord  come  home, 
with  whom  I  staid  long,  and  talked  of  many  things. 
I  got  leave  to  have  his  picture,  that  was  done  by  Lilly, 
copied.  He  told  me  there  hath  been  a  meeting  before 
the  King  and  my  Lord  Chancellor,  of  some  Episcopalian 
and  Presbyterian  Divines  ;  but  what  had  passed  he 
could  not  tell  me. 

November  7,  1666. 

Called  at  Faythorn's,  to  buy  some  prints  for  my  wife 
31 


RED-LETTER   DAYS  OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

to  draw  by  this  winter,  and  here  did  see  my  Lady 
Castlemaine's  picture,  done  by  him  from  Lilly's,  in  red 
chalke  and  other  colours,  by  which  he  hath  cut  it  in 
copper  to  be  printed.  The  picture  in  chalke  is  the 
finest  thing  I  ever  saw  in  my  life,  I  think ;  and  I  did 
desire  to  buy  it ;  but  he  says  he  must  keep  it  awhile  to 
correct  his  copper-plate  by,  and,  when  that  is  done,  he 
will  sell  it  me. 

April  26,  1667. 

While  I  was  waiting  in  the  matted  Gallery,  a  young 
man  was  working  in  Indian  inke  the  great  picture  of 
the  King  and  Queen  sitting,  by  Van  Dyke  ;  and  did  it 
very  finely. 

February  10,  1668-69. 

To  White  Hall,  where  the  Duke  of  York  was  gone 
a-hunting ;  and  so  to  the  plaisterer's  at  Charing  Cross, 
that  casts  heads  and  bodies  in  plaister  :  and  there  I  had 
my  whole  face  done  ;  but  I  was  vexed  first  to  be  forced 
to  daub  all  my  face  over  with  pomatum  :  but  it  was 
pretty  to  feel  how  soft  and  easily  it  is  done  on  the  face, 
and  by  and  by,  by  degrees,  how  hard  it  becomes,  that 
you  cannot  break  it,  and  sits  so  close,  that  you  cannot 
pull  it  off,  and  yet  so  easy,  that  it  is  as  soft  as  a  pillow, 
so  safe  is  everything  where  many  parts  of  the  body  do 
bear  alike.  Thus  was  the  mould  made ;  but  when  it 
came  off"  there  was  little  pleasure  in  it,  as  it  looks  in  the 
mould,  nor  any  resemblance  whatever  there  will  be  in 
the  figure,  when  I  come  to  see  it  cast  off. 

32 


MR.    PEPYS    ON    BOOKS   AND    READING 


MR.   PEPYS   ON   BOOKS  AND  READING 

August  1 8,  1 66 1. 

At  night  fell  to  read  in  "  Hooker's  Ecclesiastical 
Polity,"  which  Mr.  Moore  did  give  me  last  Wednesday- 
very  handsomely  bound  ;  and  which  I  shall  read  with 
great  pains  and  love  for  his  sake. 

June  13,  1662. 

Up  by  4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  read  Cicero's 
Second  Oration  against  Catiline,  which  pleased  me 
exceedingly  ;  and  more  I  discern  therein  than  ever  I 
thought  was  to  be  found  in  him  ;  but  I  perceive  it  was 
my  ignorance,  and  that  he  is  as  good  a  writer  as  ever  I 
read  in  my  life. 

December  22,  1662. 

Home,  and  presently  shifted  myself,  and  so  had  the 
barber  come ;  and  my  wife  and  I  to  read  "  Ovid's  Meta- 
morphoses," which  I  brought  her  home  from  Paul's 
Churchyard  to-night. 

December  26,  1662. 

To  the  Wardrobe.  Hither  come  Mr.  Battersby  ; 
and  we  falling  into  discourse  of  a  new  book  of  drollery  in 

33  D 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

use,  called  Hudebras,  I  would  needs  go  find  it  out,  and 
met  with  it  at  the  Temple  :  cost  me  2s.  6d.  But  when 
I  come  to  read  it,  it  is  so  silly  an  abuse  of  the  Presbyter 
Knight  going  to  the  wars,  that  I  am  ashamed  of  it ;  and 
by  and  by  meeting  at  Mr.  Townsend's  at  dinner,  I  sold 
it  to  him  for  i8d. 

February  6,  1662-63. 

To  a  bookseller's  in  the  Strand,  and  there  bought 
Hudibras  again,  it  being  certainly  some  ill-humour  to 
be  so  against  that  which  all  the  world  cries  up  to  be  the 
example  of  wit ;  for  which  I  am  resolved  once  more  to 
read  him,  and  see  whether  I  can  find  it  or  no. 

December  IO,  1663. 

To  St.  Paul's  Church  Yard,  to  my  bookseller's,  and, 
having  gained  this  day  in  the  office  by  my  stationer's 
bill  to  the  King  about  405.  or  £3,  calling  for  twenty 
books  to  lay  this  money  out  upon,  and  found  myself  at 
a  great  loss  where  to  choose,  and  do  see  how  my  nature 
would  gladly  return  to  the  laying  out  of  money  in  this 
trade.  Could  not  tell  whether  to  lay  out  my  money  for 
books  of  pleasure,  as  plays,  which  my  nature  was  most 
earnest  in  ;  but  at  last,  after  seeing  Chaucer,  Dugdale's 
History  of  Paul's,  Stow's  London,  Gesner,  History  of 
Trent,  besides  Shakespeare,  Jonson,  and  Beaumont's 
plays,  I  at  last  choose  Dr.  Fuller's  Worthys,  the  Cabbala, 
or  Collections  of  Letters  of  State,  and  a  little  book, 
"  Delices  de-Hollande,"  with  another  little  book  or  two, 
all  of  good  use  or  serious  pleasure  ;  and  Hudibras,  both 

34 


MR.    PEPYS   ON   BOOKS   AND   READING 

parts,  the  book  now  in  greatest  fashion  for  drollery, 
though  I  cannot,  I  confess,  see  enough  where  the  wit 
lies.  My  mind  being  thus  settled,  I  went  by  link  home, 
and  so  to  my  office,  and  to  read  in  Rushworth  ;  and  so 
home  to  supper  and  to  bed.  Calling  at  Wotton's,  my 
shoemaker's,  to-day,  he  tells  me  that  Sir  H.  Wright 
is  dying ;  and  that  Harris  is  come  to  the  Duke's  house 
again  ;  and  of  a  rare  play  to  be  acted  this  week  of  Sir 
William  Davenant's :  the  story  of  Henry  the  Eighth, 
with  all  his  wives. 

January  27,  1663-64. 

At  the  Coffee-house,  where  I  sat  with  Sir  G.  Ascue 
and  William  Petty,  who  in  discourse  is,  methinks,  one  of 
the  most  rational  men  that  ever  I  heard  speak  with  a 
tongue,  having  all  his  notions  the  most  distinct  and  clear, 
and  did,  among  other  things  (saying,  that  in  all  his  life 
these  three  books  were  the  most  esteemed  and  generally 
cried  up  for  wit  in  the  world — "  Religio  Medici," 
Osborne's  "Advice  to  a  Son,"  and  "Hudibras"),  say 
that  in  these — the  two  first  principally — the  wit  lies,  and 
confirming  some  pretty  sayings,  which  are  generally  like 
paradoxes,  by  some  argument  smartly  and  pleasantly 
urged,  which  takes  with  people  who  do  not  trouble 
themselves  to  examine  the  force  of  an  argument,  which 
pleases  them  in  the  delivery,  upon  a  subject  which  they 
like  ;  whereas,  as  by  many  particular  instances  of  mine, 
and  others,  out  of  Osborne,  he  did  really  find  fault  and 
weaken  the  strength  of  many  of  Osborne's  arguments, 
so  as  that  in  downright  disputation  they  would  not  bear 

35 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

weight — at  least,  so  far  but  that  they  might  be  weakened, 
and  better  found  in  their  rooms  to  confirm  what  is  there 
said.  He  shewed  finely  whence  it  happens  that  good 
writers  are  not  admired  by  the  present  age ;  because 
there  are  but  few  in  any  age  that  do  mind  any  thing 
that  is  abstruse  and  curious  ;  and  so  longer  before  any 
body  do  put  the  true  praise,  and  set  it  on  foot  in  the 
world,  the  generality  of  mankind  pleasing  themselves  in 
the  easy  delights  of  the  world,  as  eating,  drinking, 
dancing,  hunting,  fencing,  which  we  see  the  meanest 
men  do  the  best — those  that  profess  it.  A  gentleman 
never  dances  so  well  as  the  dancing-master ;  and  an 
ordinary  fiddler  makes  better  musick  for  a  shilling  than  a 
gentleman  will  do  after  spending  forty.  And  so  in  all  the 
delights  of  the  world  almost. 

"January  30,  1663—64. 

This  evening  I  tore  some  old  papers  ;  among  others,  a 
romance  which,  under  the  title  of  "  Love  a  Cheate,"  I 
begun  ten  years  ago  at  Cambridge  :  and,  reading  it  over 
to-night,  I  liked  it  very  well,  and  wondered  a  little  at 
myself,  at  my  vein  at  that  time  when  I  wrote  it,  doubting 
that  I  cannot  do  so  well  now  if  I  would  try. 

September  25,  1664. 

(Lord's  day.)  My  throat  being  yet  very  sore,  and 
my  head  out  of  order,  went  not  to  church,  but  spent  all 
the  morning  reading  of  "The  Madd  Lovers,"  a  very 
good  play.  Read  another  play,  "  The  Custome  of  the 
Country,"  which  is  a  very  poor  one,  methinks. 

36 


MR.   PEPYS   ON   BOOKS  AND   READING 

January  18,  1664-65. 

To  my  bookseller's,  and  there  did  give  thorough 
direction  for  the  new  binding  of  a  great  many  of  my 
old  books,  to  make  my  whole  study  of  the  same  binding, 
within  very  few. 

May  14,  1665. 

I  all  the  afternoon  in  the  coach,  reading  the 
treasonous  book  of  the  Court  of  King  James,  printed 
a  great  while  ago,  and  worth  reading,  though  ill 
intended. 

January  27,  1666-67. 

(Lord's  day).  To  Sir  Philip  Warwick,  by  appoint- 
ment, to  meet  Lord  Bellassis,  and  up  to  his  chamber, 
but  find  him  unwilling  to  discourse  of  business  on 
Sundays  :  so  did  not  enlarge.  Went  down  and  sat  in 
a  low  room,  reading  "  Erasmus  de  Scribendis  Epistolis," 
a  very  good  book,  especially  one  letter  of  advice  to  a 
courtier  most  true  and  good,  which  made  me  once 
resolve  to  tear  out  the  two  leaves  that  it  was  writ  in, 
but  I  forbore  it. 

February  2,  1666—67. 

This    night    comes    home    my  new   silver    snuffe- 

dish,  which   I   do   give    myself  for  my   closet.     I  am 

very   well  pleased   this   night   with  reading  a  poem   I 

brought  home  with  me  last  night  from  Westminster 
Hall,  of  Dryden's,  upon  the  present  war  j  a  very  good 
poem. 

37 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

April  8,  1667. 

Away  to  the  Temple,  to  my  new  bookseller's ;  and 
there  I  did  agree  for  Rycaut's  late  History  of  the  Turkish 
Policy,  which  cost  me  555.  ;  whereas  it  was  sold  plain 
before  the  late  fire  for  8s.,  and  bound  and  coloured  as  this 
is,  for  2os. ;  for  I  have  bought  it  finely  bound  and  truly 
coloured,  all  the  figures,  of  which  there  was  but  six 
books  done  so,  whereof  the  King  and  Duke  of  York, 
and  Duke  of  Monmouth,  and  Lord  Arlington,  had  four. 
The  fifth  was  sold,  and  I  have  bought  the  sixth. 

April  15,  1667. 

To  my  new  bookseller's,  and  there  bought  "  Hooker's 
Polity,"  the  new  edition,  and  "  Dugdale's  History  of  the 
Inns  of  Court,"  of  which  there  was  but  a  few  saved  out 
of  the  fire,  and  Playford's  new  Catch-book,  that  hath  a 
great  many  new  fooleries  in  it. 

May  26,  1667. 

I  away  to  my  boat,  and  up  with  it  as  far  as  Barne 
Elmes,  reading  of  Mr.  Evelyn's  late  new  book  against 
Solitude,1  in  which  I  do  not  find  much  excess  of  good 
matter,  though  it  be  pretty  for  a  bye  discourse. 

July  24,  1667. 

About  five  o'clock  down  to  Gravesend,  all  the  way 
with  extraordinary  content  reading  of  Boyle's  Hydro- 

1  "  1 5th  February,  1 666-7.  My  little  book  in  answer  to  Sir  George 
Mackenzie 'was  now  published,  entitled  'Public  Employment  and  an  active 
life,  with  its  Appenages,  preferred  to  Solitude.' " — Evelyn's  Diary. 

38 


MR.    PEPYS   ON    BOOKS   AND   READING 

statickes,  which   the   more  I  read  and  understand,  the 
more  I  admire,  as  a  most  excellent  piece  of  philosophy. 

January  10,  1667-680 

To   my   new  bookseller's,  Martin's  ;    and   there  did 
meet  with  Fournier,  the  Frenchman,  that   hath  wrote 
of  the  Sea  Navigation,  and  I  could  not  but  buy   him, 
and  also  bespoke  an  excellent  book,  which  I  met  with 
there,  of  China.     The  truth  is,  I  have  bought  a  great 
many  books  lately  to  a  great  value  ;  but  I  think  to  buy 
no  more  till  Christmas  next,  and  those  that  I  have  will 
so  fill  my  two  presses,  that  I  must  be  forced   to   give 
away  some,  or  make  room  for  them,  it  being  my  design 
to  have  no  more  at  any  time  for  my  proper  library  than 
to  fill  them. 

February  2,  1667-68. 

(Lord's  day.)  All  the  morning  setting  my  books  in  order 
in  my  presses,  for  the  following  year,  their  number  being 
much  increased  since  the  last,  so  as  I  am  fain  to  lay  by 
several  books  to  make  room  for  better,  being  resolved  to 
keep  no  more  than  just  my  presses  will  contain. 

February  8,  1667-68. 

To  the  Strand,  to  my  bookseller's,  and  there  bought 
an  idle  rogueish  French  book,  which  I  have  bought 
in  plain  binding,  avoiding  the  buying  of  it  better  bound, 
because  I  resolve,  as  soon  as  I  have  read  it,  to  burn  it, 
that  it  may  not  stand  in  the  list  of  books,  nor  among 
them,  to  disgrace  them  if  it  should  be  found. 

39 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

February  15,  1667-68. 

Till  midnight  almost,  and  till  I  had  tired  my  own 
backe,  and  my  wife's,  and  Deb's,  in  titleing  of  my  books 
for  the  present  year,  and  in  setting  them  in  order,  which 
is  now  done,  to  my  very  good  satisfaction,  though  not 
altogether  so  completely  as  I  think  they  were  the  last  year. 

February  1 8,  1667-68. 

I  well  remember  what,  in  mirth,  he  [Sir  William  Coven- 
try] said  to  me  this  morning,  when  upon  this  discourse 
he  said,  if  ever  there  was  another  Dutch  war,  they  should 
not  find  a  Secretary  ;  "  Nor,"  said  I,  "  a  Clerk  of  the 
Acts,  for  I  see  the  reward  of  it  ;  and,  thank  God  !  I 
have  enough  of  my  own  to  buy  me  a  good  book  and  a  good 
fiddle,  and  I  have  a  good  wife;" — "Why,"  says  he,  "I 
have  enough  to  buy  me  a  good  book,  and  shall  not  need 
a  fiddle,  because  I  have  never  a  one  of  your  good  wives." 

March  18,  1668. 

Home,  and  there,  in  favour  to  my  eyes,  staid  at  home, 
reading  the  ridiculous  History  of  my  Lord  Newcastle, 
wrote  by  his  wife,  which  shows  her  to  be  a  mad, 
conceited,  ridiculous  woman,  and  he  an  asse  to  suffer 
her  to  write  what  she  writes  to  him,  and  of  him.  So 
to  bed,  my  eyes  being  very  bad  ;  and  I  know  not  how 
in  the  world  to  abstain  from  reading. 

October  12,  1668. 

Read  a  ridiculous  nonsensical  book  set  out  by  Will. 
Pen  for  the  Quakers  ;  but  so  full  of  nothing  but 
nonsense,  that  I  was  ashamed  to  read  in  it, 

4° 


MR.   PEPYS  AS  A   MAN   OF  AFFAIRS 


MR.  PEPYS  AS  A  MAN  OF  AFFAIRS 

May  19,  1663. 

With  Sir  John  Minnes  to  the  Tower  ;  and  by  Mr. 
Slingsby,  and  Mr.  Howard,  Comptroller  of  the  Mint,  we 
were  shown  the  method  of  making  this  new  money. 
That  being  done,  the  Comptroller  would  have  us  dine 
with  him  and  his  company,  the  King  giving  them  a 
dinner  every  day.  And  very  merry  and  good  discourse 
upon  the  business  we  have  been  upon,  and  after  dinner 
went  to  the  Assay  Office,  and  there  saw  the  manner  of 
assaying  of  gold  and  silver,  and  how  silver  melted  down 
with  gold  do  part,  [upon]  just  being  put  into  aqua-fortis, 
the  silver  turning  into  water,  and  the  gold  lying  whole, 
in  the  very  form  it  was  put  in,  mixed  of  gold  and  silver, 
which  is  a  miracle  ;  and  to  see  no  silver  at  all,  but 
turned  into  water  which  they  can  bring  again  into  itself 
out  of  the  water :  and  at  table  they  told  us  of  two 
cheats,  the  best  I  ever  heard.  One  of  a  labourer  dis- 
covered to  convey  away  bits  of  silver  cut  out  for  pence 
by  swallowing  them,  and  so  they  could  not  find  him 
out,  though,  of  course,  they  searched  all  the  labourers  : 
but,  having  reason  to  doubt  him,  they  did,  by  threats 
and  promises,  get  him  to  confess,  and  did  find  ^7  of  it 

41 


RED-LETTER   DAYS  OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

in  his  house  at  one  time.  The  other  of  one  that  got  a 
way  of  coyning  as  good  and  passable,  and  large  as  the 
true  money  is,  and  yet  saved  fifty  per  cent,  to  himself, 
which  was  by  getting  moulds  made  to  stamp  groats  like 
old  groats,  which  is  done  so  well,  and  I  did  beg  two  of 
them,  which  I  keep  for  rarities,  that  there  is  not  better 
in  the  world,  and  is  as  good  and  better  than  those  that 
commonly  go,  which  was  the  only  thing  that  they 
could  find  out  to  doubt  them  by,  besides  the  number 
that  the  party  do  go  to  put  off,  and  then,  coming  to  the 
Controller  of  the  Mint,  he  could  not,  I  say,  find  out 
any  other  thing  to  raise  any  doubt  upon,  but  only  their 
being  so  truly  round  or  near  it.  He  was  neither  hanged 
nor  burned  ;  the  cheat  was  thought  so  ingenious,  and 
being  the  first  time  they  could  ever  trap  him  in  it,  and 
so  little  hurt  to  any  man  in  it,  the  money  being  as  good 
as  commonly  goes.  They  now  coyne  between  16  and 
24,000  pounds  in  a  week. 

September  IO,  1663. 

All  the  morning  making  a  great  contract  with  Sir  W. 
Warren,  for  ^3,000  worth  of  masts,  but,  good  God  !  to 
see  what  a  man  might  do,  were  I  a  knave.  Mr.  Moore 
tells  me  of  the  good  peace  that  is  made  at  Tangier  with 
the  Moores,  but  to  continue  but  from  six  months  to  six 
months. 

September  24,  1666. 

To  Sir  G.  Carteret,  to  speak  a  little  about  the  altera- 
tion ;  and  there,  looking  over  the  book  Sir  G.  Carteret 

42 


MR.   PEPYS   AS   A   MAN    OF  AFFAIRS 

intends  to  deliver  to  the  Parliament  of  his  payments 
since  September  1st,  1664,  I  find  my  name  the  very 
second  for  flags,  which  I  had  bought  for  the  Navy,  ot 
calico,  once,  about  500  and  odd  pounds,  which  vexed  me 
mightily.  At  last,  I  concluded  of  scraping  out  my 
name,  and  putting  in  Mr.  Tooker's,  which  eased  me ; 
though  the  price  was  such  as  I  should  have  had  glory  by. 
Here  I  saw  my  Lady  Carteret  lately  come  to  town,  who, 
good  lady  !  is  mighty  kind,  and  I  must  make  much  of  her. 

November  17,  1666. 

In  the  afternoon  shut  myself  up  in  my  chamber,  and 
there  till  twelve  at  night  finishing  my  great  letter  to  the 
Duke  of  York,  which  do  lay  the  ill  condition  of  the 
Navy  so  open  to  him,  that  it  is  impossible  if  the  King 
and  he  minds  anything  of  their  business,  but  it  will 
operate  upon  them  to  set  all  matters  right,  and  get 
money  to  carry  on  the  war,  before  it  be  too  late,  or  else 
lay  out  for  a  peace  upon  any  termes.  It  was  a  great 
convenience  to-night  that  what  I  had  writ  foule  in  short- 
hand, I  could  read  it  to  W.  Hewer,  and  he  take  it  fair  in 
short-hand,  so  as  I  can  read  it  to-morrow  to  Sir  W. 
Coventry,  and  then  come  home,  and  Hewer  read  it  to 
me  while  I  take  it  in  long-hand  to  present,  which  saves 
me  much  time. 

March  i,  1668. 

(Lord's  day.)  Up  very  betimes,  and  by  coach  to 
Sir  W.  Coventry's  ;  and  there,  largely  carrying  with  me 
all  my  notes  and  papers,  did  run  over  our  whole  defence 

43 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

in  the  business  of  tickets,  in  order  to  the  answering  the 
House  on  Thursday  next  ;  and  I  do  think,  unless  they 
be  set  without  reason  to  ruin  us,  we  shall  make  a  good 
defence.  I  find  him  in  great  anxiety,  though  he  will 
not  discover  it,  in  the  business  of  the  proceedings  of 
Parliament  ;  and  would  as  little  as  is  possible  have  his 
name  mentioned  in  our  discourse  to  them ;  and 
particularly  the  business  of  selling  places  is  now  upon 
his  hand  to  defend  himself  in ;  wherein  I  did  help  him 
in  his  defence  about  the  flag-maker's  place,  which  is 
named  in  the  House.  We  did  here  do  the  like  about 
the  complaint  of  want  of  victuals  in  the  fleete  in 
the  year  1666,  which  will  lie  upon  me  to  defend  also. 
In  lieu  of  a  coach  this  year,  I  have  got  my  wife  to  be 
contented  with  her  closet  being  made  up  this  summer, 
and  going  into  the  country  this  summer  for  a  month 
or  two,  to  my  father's,  and  there  Mercer  and  Deb 
and  Jane  shall  go  with  her,  which  I  the  rather  do  for 
the  entertaining  my  wife,  and  preventing  of  fallings  out 
between  her  and  my  father  or  Deb.  To  Mrs.  Martin's, 
and  here  I  was  mightily  taken  with  a  starling  which  she 
hath,  that  was  the  King's,  which  he  kept  in  his  bed- 
chamber ;  and  do  whistle  and  talk  the  most  and  best 
that  ever  I  heard  anything  in  my  life.  Spent  the  evening 
talking  with  W.  Hewer  about  business  of  the  House,  and 
declaring  my  expectation  of  all  our  being  turned  out. 

March  2,  1668. 

Mr.  Moore  was  with  me,  and  do  tell  me,  and  so  W. 
Hewer  tells  me,  he  hears  this  morning  that  all  the  town 

44 


MR.   PEPYS   AS  A   MAN   OF  AFFAIRS 

is  full  of  the  discourse  that  the  Officers  of  the 
Navy  shall  be  all  turned  out,  but  honest  Sir  John 
Minnes,  who,  God  knows,  is  fitter  to  have  been 
turned  out  himself  than  any  of  us,  doing  the  King  more 
hurt  by  his  dotage  and  folly  than  all  the  rest  can  do  by 
their  knavery,  if  they  had  a  mind  to  it. 

March  3,  1668. 

Up  betimes  to  work  again,  and  then  met  at  the 
Office,  where  to  our  great  business  of  this  answer  to  the 
Parliament ;  where  to  my  great  vexation  I  find  my 
Lord  Brouncker  prepared  only  to  excuse  himself,  while 
I,  that  have  least  reason  to  trouble  myself,  am  preparing 
with  great  pains  to  defend  them  all  :  and  more,  I 
perceive,  he  would  lodge  the  beginning  of  discharging 
ships  by  ticket  upon  me  :  but  I  care  not,  for  I  believe 
I  shall  get  more  honour  by  it  when  the  Parliament, 
against  my  will,  shall  see  how  the  whole  business  of  the 
Office  was  done  by  me.  1  with  my  clerks  to  dinner, 
and  thence  presently  down  with  Lord  Brouncker,  W. 
Pen,  T.  Harvy,  T.  Middleton,  and  Mr.  Tippets,  who 
first  took  his  place  this  day  at  the  table,  as  a  Com- 
missioner, in  the  room  of  Commissioner  Pett.  Down 
by  water  to  Deptford,  where  the  King,  Queen,  and 
Court  are  to  see  launched  the  new  ship  built  by  Mr. 
Shish,  called  "  The  Charles."  God  send  her  better  luck 
than  the  former  !  Here  some  of  our  brethren,  who 
went  in  a  boat  a  little  before  my  boat,  did  by  appoint- 
ment take  opportunity  of  asking  the  King's  leave  that 
we  might  make  full  use  of  the  want  of  money,  in  our 

45 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

excuse  to  the  Parliament  for  the  business  of  tickets,  and 
other  things  they  will  lay  to  our  charge,  all  which  arise 
from  nothing  else :  and  this  the  King  did  readily  agree 
to,  and  did  give  us  leave  to  make  our  full  use  of  it. 
The  ship  being  well  launched,  I  back  again  by  boat. 

March  4,  1668. 

Vexed  and  sickish  to  bed,  and  there  slept  about  three 
hours,  but  then  waked,  and  never  in  so  much  trouble  in 
all  my  life  of  mind,  thinking  of  the  task  I  have  upon  me, 
and  upon  what  dissatisfactory  grounds,  and  what  the 
issue  of  it  may  be  to  me. 

March  5,  1668. 

With  these  thoughts  I  lay  troubling  myself  till  six 
o'clock,  restless,  and  at  last  getting  my  wife  to  talk  to 
me  to  comfort  me,  which  she  at  last  did,  and  made  me 
resolve  to  quit  my  hands  of  this  Office,  and  endure  the 
trouble  no  longer  than  till  I  can  clear  myself  of  it.  So 
with  great  trouble,  but  yet  with  some  ease,  from  this 
discourse  with  my  wife,  I  up,  and  at  my  Office,  whither 
come  my  clerks,  and  so  I  did  huddle  the  best  I  could 
some  more  notes  for  my  discourse  to-day,  and  by  nine 
o'clock  was  ready,  and  did  go  down  to  the  Old  Swan, 
and  there  by  boat,  with  T.  Harvey  and  W.  Hewer  with 
me,  to  Westminster,  where  I  found  myself  come  time 
enough,  and  my  brethren  all  ready.  But  I  full  of 
thoughts  and  trouble  touching  the  issue  of  this  day  ; 
and,  to  comfort  myself,  did  go  to  the  Dog  and  drink 
half  a  pint  of  mulled  sack,  and  in  the  Hall  [Westminster] 

46 


MR.    PEPYS  AS   A   MAN   OF  AFFAIRS 

did  drink  a  dram  of  brandy  at  Mrs.  Hewlett's ;  and  with 
the  warmth  of  this  did  find  myself  in  better  order  as  to 
courage,  truly.  So  we  all  up  to  the  lobby  ;  and,  between 
eleven  or  twelve  o'clock,  were  called  in,  with  the  mace 
before  us,  into  the  House,  where  a  mighty  full  House  : 
and  we  stood  at  the  bar,  namely,  Brouncker,  Sir  J. 
Minnes,  Sir  T.  Harvey,  and  myself,  W.  Pen  being 
in  the  House,  as  a  Member.  I  perceive  the  whole 
House  was  full  of  expectation  of  our  defence  what  it 
would  be,  and  with  great  prejudice.  After  the  Speaker 
had  told  us  the  dissatisfaction  of  the  House,  and  read  the 
Report  of  the  Committee,  I  began  our  defence  most 
acceptably  and  smoothly,  and  continued  at  it  without 
any  hesitation  or  losse,  but  with  full  scope,  and  all  my 
reason  free  about  me,  as  if  it  had  been  at  my  own  table, 
from  that  time  till  passed  three  in  the  afternoon  ;  and  so 
ended,  without  any  interruption  from  the  Speaker ;  but 
we  withdrew.  And  there  all  my  Fellow-Officers,  and  all 
the  world  that  was  within  hearing,  did  congratulate  me, 
and  cry  up  my  speech  as  the  best  thing  they  ever  heard  ; 
and  my  Fellow-Officers  were  overjoyed  in  it ;  and  we 
were  called  in  again  by  and  by  to  answer  only  one 
question,  touching  our  paying  tickets  to  ticket-mongers  ; 
and  so  out  ;  and  we  were  in  hopes  to  have  had  a  vote 
this  day  in  our  favour,  and  so  the  generality  of  the 
House  was  ;  but  my  speech,  being  so  long,  many  had 
gone  out  to  dinner  and  come  in  again  half-drunk  ;  and 
then  there  are  two  or  three  that  are  professed  enemies  to 
us  and  every  body  else  ;  among  others,  Sir  T.  Littleton, 
Sir  Thomas  Lee,  Mr.  Wiles,  the  coxcomb  whom  I 

47 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

saw  heretofore  at  the  cock-fighting,  and  a  few  others  ; 
I  say,  these  did  rise  up  and  speak  against  the  coming  to 
a  vote  now,  the  House  not  being  full,  by  reason  of  several 
being  at  dinner,  but  most  because  that  the  House  was  to 
attend  the  King  this  afternoon,  about  the  business  of 
religion,  wherein  they  pray  him  to  put  in  force  all  the 
laws  against  Nonconformists  and  Papists  ;  and  this  pre- 
vented it,  so  that  they  put  it  off  to  to-morrow  come 
se'nnight.  However,  it  is  plain  we  have  got  great 
ground,  and  every  body  says  I  have  got  the  most 
honour  that  any  could  have  had  opportunity  of  getting; 
and  so  our  hearts  mightily  overjoyed  at  this  success.  We 
all  to  dinner  to  my  Lord  Brouncker's — that  is  to  say, 
myself,  T.  Harvey,  and  W.  Pen,  and  there  dined  ;  and 
thence  with  Sir  Anthony  Morgan,  who  is  an  acquaint- 
ance of  Brouncker's,  a  very  wise  man,  we  after  dinner 
to  the  King's  house,  and  there  saw  part  of  "  The 
Discontented  Colonel."  To  my  wife,  whom  W.  Hewer 
had  told  of  my  success,  and  she  overjoyed  ;  and,  after 
talking  awhile,  I  betimes  to  bed,  having  had  no  quiet 
rest  a  good  while. 

March  6,  1668. 

Up  betimes,  and  with  Sir  D.  Gauden  to  Sir  W. 
Coventry's  chamber  :  where  the  first  word  he  said  to 
me  was,  "  Good-morrow,  Mr.  Pepys,  that  must  be 
Speaker  of  the  Parliament-house  :  "  and  did  protest  I 
had  got  honour  for  ever  in  Parliament.  He  said  that 
his  brother,  that  sat  by  him,  admires  me  ;  and  another 
gentleman  said  that  I  could  not  get  less  than  ^1,000 


MR.   PEPYS  AS  A   MAN   OF  AFFAIRS 

a-year,  if  I  would  put  on  a  gown  and  plead  at  the 
Chancery-bar  ;  but,  what  pleases  me  most,  he  tells  me 
that  the  Solicitor-General  did  protest  that  he  thought 
I  spoke  the  best  of  any  man  in  England.  After  several 
talks  with  him  alone  touching  his  own  businesses,  he 
carried  me  to  White  Hall,  and  there  parted  ;  and  I  to 
the  Duke  of  York's  lodgings,  and  find  him  going  to  the 
Park,  it  being  a  very  fine  morning,  and  I  after  him  ;  and, 
as  soon  as  he  saw  me,  he  told  me,  with  great  satisfaction, 
that  I  had  converted  a  great  many  yesterday,  and  did, 
with  great  praise  of  me,  go  on  with  the  discourse  with 
me.  And,  by  and  by,  overtaking  the  King,  the  King 
and  Duke  of  York  came  to  me  both  ;  and  he  [the  King] 
said,  "  Mr.  Pepys,  I  am  very  glad  of  your  success  yester- 
day ;  "  and  fell  to  talk  of  my  well  speaking  ;  and  many 
of  the  Lords  there.  My  Lord  Barkeley  did  cry  me  up 
for  what  they  had  heard  of  it  ;  and  others,  Parliament- 
men  there,  about  the  King,  did  say  that  they  never 
heard  such  a  speech  in  their  lives  delivered  in  that 
manner.  Progers,  of  the  Bedchamber,  swore  to  me 
afterwards  before  Brouncker,  in  the  afternoon,  that  he 
did  tell  the  King  that  he  thought  I  might  match  the 
Solicitor-General.  Every  body  that  saw  me  almost  came 
to  me,  as  Joseph  Williamson  and  others,  with  such 
eulogys  as  cannot  be  expressed.  From  thence  I  went  to 
Westminster  Hall,  where  I  met  Mr.  G.  Montagu,  who 
came  to  me  and  kissed  me,  and  told  me  that  he  had 
often  heretofore  kissed  my  hands,  but  now  he  would  kiss 
my  lips  :  protesting  that  I  was  another  Cicero,  and  said, 
all  the  world  said  the  same  of  me.  Mr.  Ashburnham, 

49  E 


RED-LETTER    DAYS  OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

and  every  creature  I  met  there  of  the  Parliament,  or 
that  knew  any  thing  of  the  Parliament's  actings,  did 
salute  me  with  this  honour  : — Mr.  Godolphin  ; — Mr. 
Sands,  who  swore  he  would  go  twenty  miles,  at  any 
time,  to  hear  the  like  again,  and  that  he  never  saw  so 
many  sit  four  hours  together  to  hear  any  man  in  his 
life  as  there  did  to  hear  me.  Mr.  Chichly, — Sir  John 
Duncomb, — and  every  body  do  say  that  the  kingdom 
will  ring  of  my  abilities,  and  that  I  have  done  myself 
right  for  my  whole  life  :  and  so  Captain  Cocke,  and 
others  of  my  friends,  say  that  no  man  had  ever  such  an 
opportunity  of  making  his  abilities  known  ;  and,  that  I 
may  cite  all  at  once,  Mr.  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower  did 
tell  me  that  Mr.  Vaughan  did  protest  to  him,  and  that, 
in  his  hearing,  he  said  so  to  the  Duke  of  Albemarle,  and 
afterwards  to  Sir  W.  Coventry,  that  he  had  sat  twenty- 
six  years  in  Parliament,  and  never  heard  such  a  speech 
there  before  :  for  which  the  Lord  God  make  me 
thankful !  and  that  I  may  make  use  of  it,  not  to  pride 
and  vain-glory,  but  that,  now  I  have  this  esteem,  I  may 
do  nothing  that  may  lessen  it  !  I  spent  the  morning 
thus  walking  in  the  Hall,  being  complimented  by  every- 
body with  admiration  :  and  at  noon  stepped  into  the 
Legg  with  Sir  William  Warren,  who  was  in  the  Hall, 
and  there  talked  about  a  little  of  his  business,  and  thence 
into  the  Hall  a  little  more,  and  so  with  him  by  coach  as 
far  as  the  Temple  almost,  and  there  'light,  to  follow  my 
Lord  Brouncker's  coach,  which  I  spied,  and  so  to  Madam 
Williams's,  where  I  overtook  him,  and  agreed  upon 
meeting  this  afternoon.  To  White  Hall,  to  wait  on 

50 


MR.    PEPYS   AS  A   MAN   OF  AFFAIRS 

the  Duke  of  York,  where  he  again,  and  all  the  company 
magnified  me,  and  several  in  the  Gallery  :  among  others, 
my  Lord  Gerard,  who  never  knew  me  before,  nor  spoke 
to  me,  desires  his  being  better  acquainted  with  me  ;  and 
[said]  that,  at  table  where  he  was,  he  never  heard  so 
much  said  of  any  man  as  of  me,  in  his  whole  life.  So 
waited  on  the  Duke  of  York,  and  thence  into  the 
Gallery,  where  the  House  of  Lords  waited  the  King's 
coming  out  of  the  Park,  which  he  did  by  and  by  ;  and 
there,  in  the  Vane-Roome,  my  Lord  Keeper  delivered 
a  Message  to  the  King,  the  Lords  being  about  him, 
wherein  the  Barons  of  England,  from  many  good 
arguments  very  well  expressed  in  the  part  he  read  out 
of,  do  demand  precedence  in  England  of  all  noblemen 
of  either  of  the  King's  other  two  Kingdoms,  be  their 
title  what  it  will ;  and  did  show  that  they  were  in 
England  reputed  but  as  Commoners,  and  sat  in  the 
House  of  Commons  and  at  conferences  with  the  Lords 
did  stand  bare.  It  was  mighty  worth  my  hearing  :  but 
the  King  did  say  only  that  he  would  consider  of  it,  and 
so  dismissed  them.1  Thence,  with  the  Lieutenant  of 
the  Tower,  in  his  coach  home  ;  and  there,  with  great 
pleasure,  with  my  wife,  talking  and  playing  at  cards 
a  little — she,  and  I,  and  W.  Hewer,  and  Deb. 

March  8,  1668. 

(Lord's  day.)     To  White  Hall,  where  met  with  very 

1  The  point  of  precedence  was  settled  by  the  Act  of  Union.  They 
have  rank  next  after  the  peers  of  the  like  degree  in  England  at  the  time  of 
the  Union. 

51 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

many  people  still  that  did  congratulate  my  speech  the 
other  day  in  the  House  of  Commons,  and  I  find  all  the 
world  almost  rings  of  it.  With  Sir  W.  Coventry,  who 
I  find  full  of  care  in  his  own  business,  how  to  defend 
himself  against  those  that  have  a  mind  to  choke  him  ; 
and  though,  I  believe,  not  for  honour  and  for  the  keeping 
his  employment,  but,  for  safety  and  reputation's  sake,  is 
desirous  to  preserve  himself  free  from  blame.  He  desires 
me  to  get  information  against  Captain  Tatnell,  thereby 
to  diminish  his  testimony,  who,  it  seems,  hath  a  mind  to 
do  W.  Coventry  hurt  :  and  I  will  do  it  with  all  my 
heart  ;  for  Tatnell  is  a  very  rogue.  He  would  be  glad, 
too,  that  I  could  find  anything  proper  for  his  taking 
notice  against  Sir  F.  Hollis.  To  dinner  with  Sir  G. 
Carteret  to  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields,  where  I  find  mighty 
deal  of  company — a  solemn  day  for  some  of  his  and  her 
friends,  and  dine  in  the  great  dining-room  above  stairs, 
where  Sir  G.  Carteret  himself,  and  I,  and  his  son,  at  a 
little  table,  the  great  table  being  full  of  strangers.  Here 
my  Lady  Jem.  do  promise  to  come,  and  bring  my  Lord 
Hinchingbroke  and  his  lady  some  day  this  week,  to 
dinner  to  me,  which  I  am  glad  of.  After  dinner,  I  up 
with  her  husband,  Sir  Philip  Carteret,  to  his  closet, 
where,  beyond  expectation,  I  do  find  many  pretty  things, 
wherein  he  appears  to  be  ingenious,  such  as  in  painting, 
and  drawing,  and  making  of  watches,  and  such  kind  of 
things  above  my  expectation  ;  though,  when  all  is  done, 
he  is  a  sneake,  who  owns  his  owing  me  ^10  for  his 
lady  two  or  three  years  ago,  and  yet  cannot  provide  to 
pay  me. 

52 


MR.    PEPYS  AS  A   MAN   OF  AFFAIRS 

March  9,  1668. 

By  coach  to  White  Hall,  and  there  met  Lord 
Brouncker :  and  he  and  I  to  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Treasury,  where  I  find  them  mighty  kind  to  me,  more, 
I  think,  than  was  wont.  And  here  I  also  met  Colvill, 
the  goldsmith  ;  who  tells  me,  with  great  joy,  how  the 
world  upon  the  'Change  talks  of  me  ;  and  how  several 
Parliament-men,  viz.,  Boscawen  and  Major  [Lionel] 
Walden,  of  Huntingdon,  who,  it  seems,  do  deal  with 
him,  do  say  how  bravely  I  did  speak,  and  that  the  House 
was  ready  to  have  given  me  thanks  for  it :  but  that, 
I  think,  is  a  vanity. 

March  10,  1668. 

Met  Sir  R.  Brookes,  who  do  mightily  cry  up  my 
speech  the  other  day,  saying  my  Fellow-Officers  are 
obliged  to  me,  as  indeed  they  are.  With  Sir  D.  Gauden 
homewards,  calling  at  Lincolne's  Inn  Fields ;  but  my 
Lady  Jemimah  was  not  within  :  and  so  to  Newgate, 
where  he  stopped  to  give  directions  to  the  jaylor  about 
a  Knight,  one  Sir  Thomas  Halford,  brought  in  yesterday 
for  killing  one  Colonel  Temple,  falling  out  at  a  taverne. 
Home  ;  and  there  comes  Mr.  Moore  to  me,  who  tells 
me  that  he  fears  my  Lord  Sandwich  will  meet  with 
very  great  difficulties  to  go  through  about  the  prizes,  it 
being  found  that  he  did  give  orders  for  more  than  the 
King's  letter  do  justify ;  and  then  for  the  Act  of 
Resumption,  which  he  fears  will  go  on,  and  is  designed 
only  to  do  him  hurt,  which  troubles  me  much.  He  tells 
me  he  believes  the  Parliament  will  not  be  brought  to  do 

53 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

any  thing  in  matters  of  religion,  but  will  adhere  to  the 
Bishops.  To  supper,  where  I  find  W.  Joyce  and 
Harman  come  to  see  us,  and  there  was  also  Mrs.  Mercer 
and  her  two  daughters,  and  here  we  were  as  merry  as 
that  fellow  Joyce  could  make  us  with  his  mad  talking, 
after  the  old  wont,  which  tired  me.  But  I  was  mightily 
pleased  with  his  singing  ;  for  the  rogue  hath  a  very  good 
eare  and  a  good  voice.  Here  he  stayed  till  he  was  almost 
drunk,  and  then  away  at  about  ten  at  night,  and  then  all 
broke  up. 

March  n,  1668. 

Meeting  Mr.  Colvill,  I  walked  with  him  to  his 
building,  where  he  is  building  a  fine  house,  where  he 
formerly  lived,  in  Lumbard  Street :  and  it  will  be  a  very 
fine  street.  So  to  Westminster ;  and  there  walked,  till 
by  and  by  comes  Sir  W.  Coventry,  and  with  him  Mr. 
Chichly  and  Mr.  Andrew  Newport.  I  to  dinner  with 
them  to  Mr.  Chichly's,  in  Queene-street,  in  Covent 
Garden.  A  very  fine  house,  and  a  man  that  lives  in 
mighty  great  fashion,  with  all  things  in  a  most  extra- 
ordinary manner  noble  and  rich  about  him,  and  eats  in 
the  French  fashion  all  ;  and  mighty  nobly  served  with 
his  servants,  and  very  civilly  ;  that  I  was  mightily 
pleased  with  it :  and  good  discourse.  He  is  a  great 
defender  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  against  the  Act 
for  Comprehension,  which  is  the  work  of  this  day,  about 
which  the  House  is  like  to  sit  till  night.  After  dinner 
with  them  to  Westminster.  About  four  o'clock,  the 
House  rises,  and  hath  put  off  the  debate  to  this  day 

54 


MR.   PEPYS   AS   A   MAN   OF  AFFAIRS 

month.  In  the  mean  time,  the  King  hath  put  out 
his  proclamations  this  day,  as  the  House  desired,  for  the 
putting  in  execution  the  Act  against  nonconformists  and 
papists.  Here  I  met  with  Roger  Pepys,  who  is  come 
to  town,  and  hath  been  told  of  my  performance  before 
the  House  the  other  day,  and  is  mighty  proud  of  it. 
Captain  Cocke  met  me  here,  and  told  me  that  the 
Speaker  says  he  never  heard  such  a  defence  made,  in  all 
his  life,  in  the  House,  and  that  the  Solicitor-General  do 
commend  me  even  to  envy.  I  carried  cozen  Roger  as 
far  as  the  Strand,  where,  spying  out  of  the  coach  Colonel 
Charles  George  Cocke,  formerly  a  very  great  man,  and 
my  father's  customer,  whom  I  have  carried  clothes  to, 
but  now  walks  like  a  poor  sorry  sneake,  he  stopped,  and 
'light  to  him.  This  man  knew  me,  which  I  would  have 
willingly  avoided,  so  much  pride  I  had,  he  being  a  man 
of  mighty  heighth  and  authority  in  his  time,  but  now 
signifies  nothing. 

March  12,  1668. 

To  Gresham  College,  there  to  show  myself;  and  was 
there  greeted  by  Dr.  Wilkins,  Whistler,  and  others,  as 
the  patron  of  the  Navy  Office,  and  one  that  got  great 
fame  by  my  late  speech  to  the  Parliament.  Then  home 
to  supper,  and  to  talk  with  Mr.  Felling,  who  tells  me 
what  a  fame  I  have  in  the  City  by  my  late  performance  ; 
and  upon  the  whole  I  bless  God  for  it.  I  think  I  have, 
if  I  can  keep  it,  done  myself  a  great  deal  of  repute.  So 
by  and  by  to  bed. 


55 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 


MR.  PEPYS'S   DEVOTIONS 

July  8,  1660. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  White  Hall  chapel,  where  I  got  in 
with  ease  by  going  before  the  Lord  Chancellor  with  Mr. 
Kipps.  Here  I  heard  very  good  musique,  the  first  time 
that  ever  I  remember  to  have  heard  the  organs  and 
singing-men  in  surplices  in  my  life.  The  Bishop  of 
Chichester  preached  before  the  King,  and  made  a  great 
flattering  sermon,  which  I  did  not  like  that  the  Clergy 
should  meddle  with  matters  of  State.  Dined  with  Mr. 
Luellin  and  Salisbury  at  a  cook's  shop. 

September  23,  1660. 

(Lord's  day.)  Come  one  from  my  father's  with  a  black 
cloth  coat,  made  of  my  short  cloak,  to  walk  up  and  down 
in.  To  the  Abbey,  where  I  expected  to  hear  Mr.  Baxter 
or  Mr.  Rowe  preach  their  farewell  sermon,  and  in  Mr. 
Symons's  pew  I  heard  Mr.  Rowe.  Before  sermon  I 
laughed  at  the  reader,  who  in  his  prayer  desires  of  God 
that  He  would  imprint  His  word  on  the  thumbs  of  our 
right  hands,  and  on  the  right  great  toes  of  our  right  feet. 
In  the  midst  of  the  sermon,  some  plaster  fell  from  the  top 

56 


MR.    PEPYS'S    DEVOTIONS 


of  the  Abbey,  that  made  me  and  all  the  rest  in  our  pew 
afraid,  and  I  wished  myself  out. 

October  14,  1660. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  White  Hall  chapel,  where  one  Dr. 
Crofts  made  an  indifferent  sermon,  and  after  it  an  anthem, 
ill-sung,  which  made  the  King  laugh.  Here  I  first  did 
see  the  Princess  Royal  since  she  came  into  England. 
Here  I  also  observed,  how  the  Duke  of  York  and  Mrs. 
Palmer  did  talk  to  one  another  very  wantonly  through 
the  hangings  that  parts  the  King's  closet  where  the 
ladies  sit. 

January  30,  1 660-6 1. 

(Fast  day.)  The  first  time  that  this  day  hath  been  yet 
observed  :  and  Mr.  Mills  made  a  most  excellent  sermon 
upon  "  Lord  forgive  us  our  former  iniquities  ; "  speaking 
excellently  of  the  justice  of  God  in  punishing  men  for 
the  sins  of  their  ancestors. 

February  17,  1660-61. 

(Lord's  day.)  A  most  tedious,  unreasonable,  and  im- 
pertinent sermon,  by  an  Irish  doctor.  His  text  was, 
"  Scatter  them,  O  Lord,  that  delight  in  warr."  Sir  W. 
Batten  and  I  very  much  angry  with  the  parson. 

March  31,  1661. 

(Sunday.)  At  church,  where  a  stranger  preached  like  a 
fool.  Dined  with  my  wife,  staying  at  home,  she  being 
unwilling  to  dress  herself,  the  house  being  all  dirty. 

57 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

May  12,  1661. 

(Lord's  day.)  At  the  Savoy  heard  Dr.  Fuller  preach 
upon  David's  words,  "  I  will  wait  with  patience  all  the 
days  of  my  appointed  time  until  my  change  comes  ; "  but 
methought  it  was  a  poor,  dry  sermon.  And  I  am  afraid 
my  former  high  esteem  of  his  preaching  was  more  out  of 
opinion  than  judgment. 

August  4,  1 66 1. 

To  church,  and  had  a  good  plain  sermon.  At  our 
coming  in,  the  country-people  all  rose  with  so  much 
reverence ;  and  when  the  parson  begins,  he  begins  "  Right 
Worshipfull  and  dearly  beloved "  to  us.  To  church 
again,  and,  after  supper,  to  talk  about  publique  matters, 
wherein  Roger  Pepys  told  me  how  basely  things  have 
been  carried  in  Parliament  by  the  young  men,  that  did 
labour  to  oppose  all  things  that  were  moved  by  serious 
men.  That  they  are  the  most  prophane  swearing  fellows 
that  ever  he  heard  in  his  life,  which  makes  him  think  that 
they  will  spoil  all,  and  bring  things  into  a  warr  again,  if 
they  can. 

November  17,  1661. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  our  own  church,  and  at  noon,  by 
invitation,  Sir  W.  Pen  dined  with  me,  and  I  took  Mrs. 
Hester,  my  Lady  Batten's  kinswoman,  to  dinner  from 
church  with  me,and  we  were  very  merry.  To  church ;  and 
heard  a  simple  fellow  upon  the  praise  of  church  musique, 
and  exclaiming  against  men's  wearing  their  hats  on  in  the 
church.  To  church  [again],  but  slept  part  of  the  sermon. 

58 


MR.   PEPYS'S   DEVOTIONS 


"January  5,  1661-62. 

To  church,  and  before  sermon,  there  was  a  long  psalm, 
and  half  another  sung  out,  while  the  Sexton  gathered 
what  the  church  would  give  him  for  this  last  half  year,  I 
gave  him  35.,  and  have  the  last  week  given  the  Clerke 
2s.,  which  I  set  down,  that  I  may  know  what  to  do  the 
next  year,  if  it  please  the  Lord  that  I  live  so  long  ;  but 
the  jest  was,  the  Clerk  begins  the  25th  psalm,  which 
hath  a  proper  tune  to  it,  and  then  the  n6th,  which 
cannot  be  sung  with  that  tune,  which  seemed  very 
ridiculous. 

March  7,  1662. 

Early  to  White  Hall,  to  the  chapel,  where  by  Mr. 
Blagrave's  means  I  got  into  his  pew,  and  heard  Dr. 
Creeton,  the  great  Scotchman,  and  chaplain  in  ordinary 
to  the  King,  preach  before  the  King,  and  Duke  and 
Duchess,  upon  the  words  of  Micah  : — "  Roule  yourself 
in  dust."  He  made  a  most  learned  sermon  upon 
the  words  :  but,  in  his  application,  the  most  comical 
man  that  ever  I  heard  in  my  life.  Just  such  a  man 
as  Hugh  Peters ;  saying  that  it  had  been  better  for  the 
poor  Cavalier  never  to  have  come  with  the  King  into 
England  again  ;  for  he  that  hath  the  impudence  to 
deny  obedience  to  the  lawful  magistrate,  and  to  swear 
to  the  oath  of  allegiance,  &c.,  was  better  treated  now- 
a-days  in  Newgate,  than  a  poor  Royalist,  that  hath 
suffered  all  his  life  for  the  King,  is  at  Whitehall  among 
his  friends. 


59 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

March  30,  1662. 

(Easter-day.)  Having  my  old  black  suit  new  fur- 
bished, I  was  pretty  neat  in  clothes  to-day  ;  and  my 
boy  his  old  suit  new  trimmed,  very  handsome.  To 
church  in  the  morning,  and  so  home,  leaving  the  two 
Sir  Williams  to  take  the  Sacrament,  which  I  blame 
myself  that  I  have  hitherto  neglected  all  my  life,  but 
once  or  twice  at  Cambridge.  My  wife  and  I  to  church 
in  the  afternoon,  and  seated  ourselves,  she  below  me,  and 
by  that  means  the  precedence  of  the  pew,  which  my 
Lady  Batten  and  her  daughter  takes,  is  confounded  ;  and 
after  sermon  she  and  I  did  stay  behind  them  in  the  pew, 
and  went  out  by  ourselves,  a  good  while  after  them, 
which  we  judge  a  very  fine  project  hereafter  to  avoyd 
contention. 

August  17,  1662. 

(Lord's  day.)  This  being  the  last  Sunday  that  the 
Presbyterians  are  to  preach,  unless  they  read  the  new 
Common  Prayer,  and  renounce  the  Covenant,  I  had 
a  mind  to  hear  Dr.  Bates's  farewell  sermon  ;  and  walked 
to  St.  Dunstan's,  where,  it  not  being  seven  o'clock  yet, 
the  doors  were  not  open  ;  and  so  I  walked  an  hour  in 
the  Temple-garden,  reading  my  vows,  which  it  is  a  great 
content  to  me  to  see  how  I  am  a  changed  man  in  all 
respects  for  the  better,  since  I  took  them,  which  the  God 
of  Heaven  continue  to  me,  and  make  me  thankful  for. 
At  eight  o'clock  I  went,  and  crowded  in  at  a  back  door 
among  others,  the  church  being  half-full  almost  before 
any  doors  were  open  publicly,  which  is  the  first  time  that 

60 


MR.    PEPYS'S   DEVOTIONS 


I  have  done  so  these  many  years  ;  and  so  got  into  the 
gallery,  beside  the  pulpit,  and  heard  very  well.  His  text 

was,  "  Now  the  God  of  Peace ;  "  the  last  Hebrews, 

and  the  2Oth  verse  :  he  making  a  very  good  sermon, 
and  very  little  reflections  in  it  to  any  thing  of  the  times. 
I  was  very  well  pleased  with  the  sight  of  a  fine  lady 
that  I  have  often  seen  walk  in  Gray's  Inn  Walks.  To 
Madam  Turner's,  and  dined  with  her.  She  had  heard 
Parson  Herring  take  his  leave  ;  though  he,  by  reading 
so  much  or  the  Common  Prayer  as  he  did,  hath  cast 
himself  out  of  the  good  opinion  of  both  sides.  After 
dinner,  to  St.  Dunstan's  again  ;  and  the  church  quite 
crowded  before  I  come,  which  was  just  at  one  o'clock  ; 
but  I  got  into  the  gallery  again,  but  stood  in  a  crowd. 
Dr.  Bates  pursued  his  text  again  very  well  ;  and  only  at 
the  conclusion  told  us,  after  this  manner  :  "  I  do  believe 
that  many  of  you  do  expect  that  I  should  say  something 
to  you  in  reference  to  the  time,  this  being  the  last  time 
that  possibly  I  may  appear  here.  You  know  it  is  not 
my  manner  to  speak  anything  in  the  pulpit  that  is 
extraneous  to  my  text  and  business  ;  yet  this  I  shall  say, 
that  it  is  not  my  opinion,  fashion,  or  humour,  that  keeps 
me  from  complying  with  what  is  required  of  us  ;  but 
something,  after  much  prayer,  discourse,  and  study,  yet 
remains  unsatisfied,  and  commands  me  herein.  Where- 
fore, if  it  is  my  unhappinesse  not  to  receive  such  an 
illuminacion  as  should  direct  me  to  do  otherwise,  I  know 
no  reason  why  men  should  not  pardon  me  in  this  world, 
as  I  am  confident  that  God  will  pardon  me  for  it  in  the 
next,"  And  so  he  concluded.  Parson  Herring  read 

61 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

a  psalme  and  chapters  before  sermon  ;  and  one  was 
the  chapter  in  the  Acts,  where  the  story  of  Ananias 
and  Sapphira  is.  And  after  he  had  done,  says  he, 
"  This  is  just  the  case  of  England  at  present.  God 
he  bids  us  to  preach,  and  men  bids  us  not  to  preach  ; 
and  if  we  do,  we  are  to  be  imprisoned  and  further 
punished.  All  that  I  can  say  to  it  is,  that  I  beg  your 
prayers,  and  the  prayers  of  all  good  Christians,  for  us." 
This  was  all  the  exposition  he  made  of  the  chapter  in 
these  very  words,  and  no  more.  I  was  much  pleased 
with  Bates's  manner  of  bringing  in  the  Lord's  Prayer 
after  his  owne  ;  thus,  "  In  whose  comprehensive  words 
we  sum  up  all  our  imperfect  desires  ;  saying,  l  Our 
Father,' "  &c.  I  hear  most  of  the  Presbyters  took  their 
leaves  to-day,  and  that  the  City  is  much  dissatisfied  with 
it.  I  pray  God  keep  peace  among  us,  and  make  the 
Bishops  careful  of  bringing  in  men  in  their  rooms,  or 
else  all  will  fly  a-pieces  ;  for  bad  ones  will  not  go  down 
with  the  City. 

December  25,  1662. 

(Christmas  day.)  Had  a  pleasant  walk  to  White  Hall, 
where  I  intended  to  have  received  the  Communion  with 
the  family,  but  I  come  a  little  too  late.  So  I  walked  up 
into  the  house,  and  spent  my  time  looking  over  pictures, 
particularly  the  ships  in  King  Henry  the  V Tilth's  voyage 
to  Bullaen  ;  marking  the  great  difference  between  those 
built  then  and  now.  By  and  by  down  to  the  chapel 
again,  where  Bishop  Morley  preached  upon  the  song  of 
the  Angels,  "  Glory  to  God  on  high,  on  earth  peace, 

62 


MR.    PEPYS'S   DEVOTIONS 


and  good  will  towards  men."  Methought  he  made  but 
a  poor  sermon,  but  long,  and,  reprehending  the  common 
jollity  of  the  Court  for  the  true  joy  that  shall  and  ought 
to  be  on  these  days,  he  particularized  concerning  their 
excess  in  playes  and  gaming,  saying  that  he  whose  office 
it  is  to  keep  the  gamesters  in  order  and  within  bounds, 
serves  but  for  a  second  rather  in  a  duell,  meaning  the 
groome-porter.  Upon  which  it  was  worth  observing 
how  far  they  are  come  from  taking  the  reprehensions  of 
a  bishop  seriously,  that  they  all  laugh  in  the  chapel 
when  he  reflected  on  their  ill  actions  and  courses.  He 
did  much  press  us  to  joy  in  these  public  days  of  joy,  and 
to  hospitality  ;  but  one  that  stood  by  whispered  in  my 
eare  that  the  Bishop  do  not  spend  one  groate  to  the  poor 
himself.  The  sermon  done,  a  good  anthem  followed 
with  vialls,  and  the  King  come  down  to  receive  the 
Sacrament.  But  1  staid  not,  but  calling  my  boy  from 
my  Lord's  lodgings,  and  giving  Sarah  some  good  advice 
by  my  Lord's  order  to  be  sober,  and  look  after  the  house, 
I  walked  home  again  with  great  pleasure,  and  there  dined 
by  my  wife's  bed-side  with  great  content,  having  a  mess 
of  brave  plum-porridge  and  a  roasted  pullet  for  dinner, 
and  I  sent  for  a  mince-pie  abroad,  my  wife  not  being 
well,  to  make  any  herself  yet. 

April  3,  1663. 

To  White  Hall  and  to  Chappell,  which  being  most 
monstrous  full,  I  could  not  go  into  my  pew,  but  sat 
among  the  quire.  Dr.  Creeton,  the  Scotchman,  preached 
a  most  admirable,  good,  learned,  and  most  severe  sermon, 

63 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

yet  comicall,  upon  the  words  of  the  woman,  "  Blessed  is 
the  womb  that  bare  thee,  and  the  paps  that  give  thee 
suck  :  and  he  answered,  nay  :  rather  is  he  blessed  that 
heareth  the  word  of  God,  and  keepeth  it."  He  railed 
bitterly  ever  and  anon  against  John  Calvin,  and  his 
brood,  the  Presbyterians,  and  against  the  present  terme, 
now  in  use,  of  "  tender  consciences."  He  ripped  up 
Hugh  Peters,  (calling  him  the  execrable  skellum  x)  his 
preaching,  stirring  up  the  maids  of  the  city  to  bring  in 
their  bodkins  and  thimbles. 

August  9,  1663. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  church,  and  heard  Mr.  Mills,  who 
is  lately  returned  out  of  the  country,  and  it  seems  was 
fetched  in  by  many  of  the  parishioners,  with  great  state, 
preach  upon  the  authority  of  the  ministers,  upon  these 
words,  "  We  are  therefore  embassadors  of  Christ." 
Wherein,  among  many  other  high  expressions,  he  said, 
that  such  a  learned  man  used  to  say,  that  if  a  minister  of 
the  word  and  an  angell  should  meet  him  together,  he 
would  salute  the  minister  first ;  which  methought  was  a 
little  too  high. 

October  14,  1663. 

After  dinner  my  wife  and  I,  by  Mr.  Rawlinson's 
conduct,  to  the  Jewish  Synagogue :  where  the  men  and 
boys  in  their  vayles,  and  the  women  behind  a  lattice  out 
of  sight ;  and  some  things  stand  up,  which  I  believe  is 
their  Law,  in  a  press,  to  which  all  coming  in  do  bow  j 

1  Villain  or  scoundrel. — E.  F.  A. 
64 


MR.    PEPYS'S    DEVOTIONS 


and  in  the  putting  on  their  vayles  do  say  something,  to 
which  others  that  hear  the  priest  do  cry,  Amen,  and  the 
party  do  kiss  his  vayle.  Their  service  all  in  a  singing 
way,  and  in  Hebrew.  And  anon  their  Laws  that  they 
take  out  of  the  press  are  carried  by  several  men,  four  or 
five  several  burthens  in  all,  and  they  do  relieve  one 
another  ;  and  whether  it  is  that  every  one  desires  to  have 
the  carrying  of  it,  thus  they  carried  it  round  about  the 
room  while  such  a  service  is  singing.  And  in  the  end 
they  had  a  prayer  for  the  King,  in  which  they  pro- 
nounced his  name  in  Portugall ;  but  the  prayer,  like 
the  rest,  in  Hebrew.  But,  Lord  !  to  see  the  disorder, 
laughing,  sporting,  and  no  attention,  but  confusion  in  all 
their  service,  more  like  brutes  than  people  knowing 
the  true  God,  would  make  a  man  forswear  ever  seeing 
them  more  :  and  indeed  I  never  did  see  so  much,  or 
could  have  imagined  there  had  been  any  religion  in  the 
whole  world,  so  absurdly  performed  as  this. 

April  17,  1664. 

(Lord's  day.)  Up,  and  I  put  on  my  best  cloth  black 
suit  and  my  velvet  cloak,  and  with  my  wife  in  her  best 
laced  suit  to  Church,  where  we  have  not  been  these  nine 
or  ten  weeks.  A  young  simple  fellow  did  preach  :  slept 
soundly  all  the  sermon.  Our  parson,  Mr.  Mills,  his 
own  mistake  in  reading  of  the  service,  was  very  remark- 
able— that  instead  of  saying  "We  beseech  thee  to 
preserve  to  our  use  the  kindly  fruits  of  the  earth," 
he  cries,  "  Preserve  to  our  use  our  gracious  Queen 
Katherine  ! " 

65  F 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

November  5,  1665. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  the  Cocke-pitt,  where  I  heard  the 
Duke  of  Albemarle's  chaplain  make  a  simple  sermon  : 
among  other  things,  reproaching  the  imperfection  of 
humane  learning,  he  cried — "  All  our  physicians  cannot 
tell  what  an  ague  is,  and  all  our  arithmetique  is  not  able 
to  number  the  days  of  a  man  " — which,  God  knows,  is 
not  the  fault  of  arithmetique,  but  that  our  under- 
standings reach  not  the  thing. 

May  13,  1666. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  Westminster,  and  into  St.  Margett's 
Church,  where  I  heard  a  young  man  play  the  fool  upon 
the  doctrine  of  Purgatory. 

July  8,  1666. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  church — wife  and  Mercer  and  I, 
in  expectation  of  hearing  some  mighty  preacher  to-day, 
Mrs.  Mary  Batelier  sending  us  word  to ;  but  it  proved 
an  ordinary  silly  lecturer,  which  made  me  merry,  and  she 
laughed  upon  us  to  see  her  mistake.  .  .  .  To  church, 
after  dinner,  again — a  thing  I  have  not  done  a  good 
while  before,  go  twice  in  one  day. 

August  5,  1666. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  the  Church,  where,  I  believe,  Mrs. 
Horsly  goes,  by  Merchant -tailors'  hall,  and  there  I  find 
in  the  pulpit  Elborough,  my  old  schoolfellow  and  a 
simple  rogue,  and  yet  I  find  preaching  a  very  good 
sermon,  and  in  as  right  a  parson-like  manner,  and  in  as 

66 


MR.    PEPY'S    DEVOTIONS 


good  a  manner  as  I  have  heard  anybody  ;  and  the  church 
very  full,  which  is  a  surprising  consideration. 

November  20,  1666. 

To  church,  it  being  thanksgiving-day  for  the  cessation 
of  the  plague  ;  but,  Lord  !  how  the  town  do  say  that  it 
is  hastened  before  the  plague  is  quite  over,  there  being 
some  people  still  ill  of  it,  but  only  to  get  ground  for 
plays  to  be  publickly  acted,  which  the  Bishops  would  not 
suffer  till  the  plague  was  over  ;  and  one  would  think  so, 
by  the  suddenness,  of  the  notice  given  of  the  day,  which 
was  last  Sunday,  and  the  little  ceremony.  The  sermon 
being  dull  of  Mr.  Minnes,  and  people  with  great 
indifferency  come  to  hear  him.  By  coach  to  Barkeshire- 
house,  and  there  did  get  a  very  great  meeting  ;  the 
Duke  of  York  being  there,  and  much  business  done, 
though  not  in  proportion  to  the  greatness  of  the  business, 
and  my  Lord  Chancellor  sleeping  and  snoring  the 
greater  part  of  the  time. 

January  2O,  1666-67. 

I  to  church,  and  there,  beyond  expectation,  find  our 
seat,  and  all  the  church  crammed,  by  twice  as  many 
people  as  used  to  be  :  and  to  my  great  joy  find  Mr. 
Frampton  in  the  pulpit ;  and  I  think  the  best  sermon, 
for  goodness  and  oratory,  without  affectation  or  study, 
that  ever  I  heard  in  my  life.  The  truth  is,  he  preaches 
the  most  like  an  apostle  that  ever  I  heard  man  ;  and 
it  was  much  the  best  time  that  I  ever  spent  in  my  life  at 
church.  His  text,  Ecclesiastes  xi.,  verse  8th — "  But  if 

67 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

a  man  live  many  years,  and  rejoice  in  them  all,  yet  let 
him  remember  the  days  of  darkness,  for  they  shall  be 
many.  All  that  cometh  is  vanity.'* 

April  21 ,  1667. 

To  Hackney  church,  where  very  full,  and  found  much 
difficulty  to  get  pews,  I  offering  the  sexton  money,  and 
he  could  not  help  me.  So  my  wife  and  Mercer  ventured 
into  a  pew,  and  I  into  another.  A  knight  and  his  lady 
very  civil  to  me  when  they  came,  being  Sir  George 
Viner,  and  his  lady — rich  in  Jewells,  but  most  in  beauty 
— almost  the  finest  woman  that  ever  I  saw.  That 
which  I  went  chiefly  to  see  was  the  young  ladies  of  the 
schools,  whereof  there  is  great  store,  very  pretty  ;  and 
also  the  organ,  which  is  handsome,  and  tunes  the  psalms, 
and  plays  with  the  people ;  which  is  mighty  pretty,  and 
makes  me  mighty  earnest  to  have  a  pair  at  our  church, 
I  having  almost  a  mind  to  give  them  a  pair,  if  they 
would  settle  a  maintenance  on  them  for  it. 

April  28,  1667. 

(Lord's  day.)  After  dinner,  by  water — the  day  being 
mighty  pleasant,  and  the  tide  serving  finely,  reading  in 
Boyle's  book  of  colours,  as  high  as  Barne  Elmes,  and 
there  took  one  turn  alone,  and  then  back  to  Putney 
Church,  where  I  saw  the  girls  of  the  schools,  few  of 
which  pretty ;  and  there  I  come  into  a  pew,  and  met 
with  little  James  Pierce,  which  I  was  much  pleased  at, 
the  little  rogue  being  very  glad  to  see  me  :  his  master, 
Reader  to  the  church.  Here  was  a  good  sermon  and 

68 


ELIZABETH    PEPYS. 
From  an  engraving  after  Hailes. 


MR.    PEPYS'S  DEVOTIONS 


much  company,  but  I  sleepy,  and  a  little  out  of  order, 
at  my  hat  falling  down  through  a  hole  beneath  the 
pulpit,  which,  however,  after  sermon,  by  a  stick,  and 
the  help  of  the  clerk,  I  got  up  again.  And  so  by  water, 
the  tide  being  with  me  again. 

August  23,  1668. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  church,  and  heard  a  good  sermon 
of  Mr.  Gifford's  at  our  church,  upon  "  Seek  ye  first  the 
kingdom  of  Heaven  and  its  righteousness,  and  all  things 
shall  be  added  to  you."  A  very  excellent  and  persuasive, 
good  and  moral  sermon.  He  showed,  like  a  wise  man, 
that  righteousness  is  a  surer  moral  way  of  being  rich, 
than  sin  and  villainy.  4 


69 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 


MR.   PEPYS   IN   HIS   CUPS 

September  28,  1660. 

All  the  afternoon  among  my  workmen,  and  did  give 
them  drink,  and  very  merry  with  them,  it  being  my  luck 
to  meet  with  a  sort  of  drolling  workmen  on  all  occasions. 

December  27,  1660. 

This  afternoon  there  came  in  a  strange  lord  to  Sir 
William  Batten's  by  a  mistake,  and  takes  discourse  with 
him,  so  that  we  could  not  be  rid  of  him  till  Sir  Arn[old] 
Breames,  and  Mr.  Bens,  and  Sir  W.  Pen,  fell  a-drinking 
to  him  till  he  was  drunk,  and  so  sent  him  away.  About 
the  middle  of  the  night  I  was  very  ill — I  think  with 
eating  and  drinking  too  much — and  so  I  was  forced  to 
call  the  mayde,  who  pleased  my  wife  and  I  in  her 
running  up  and  down  so  innocently  in  her  smock. 

March  22,  1661. 

At  five  o'clock  we  set  out  in  a  coach  home,  and  were 
very  merry  all  the  way.  At  Deptford  we  met  with  Mr. 
Newborne,  and  some  other  friends  and  their  wives  in  a 
coach  to  meet  us,  and  so  they  went  home  with  us,  and 

70 


MR.    PEPYS  IN   HIS   CUPS 


at  Sir  W.  Batten's  we  supped  and  then  to  bed,  my 
head  aching  mightily  through  the  wine  that  I  drank 
to-day. 

April  3,  1 66 1. 

Up  among  my  workmen,  my  head  akeing  all  day 
from  last  night's  debauch.  At  noon  dined  with  Sir  W. 
Batten  and  Pen,  who  would  have  me  drink  two  good 
draughts  of  sack  to-day,  to  cure  me  of  my  last  night's 
disease,  which  I  thought  strange,  but  I  think  find 
it  true. 

April  24,  1 66 1. 

Waked  in  the  morning,  with  my  head  in  a  sad  taking 
through  the  last  night's  drink,  which  I  am  very  sorry 
for  :  so  rose,  and  went  out  with  Mr.  Creed  to  drink  our 
morning  draught,  which  he  did  give  me  in  chocolate  to 
settle  my  stomach. 

June  5,  1 66 1. 

This  morning  did  give  my  wife  ^4,  to  lay  out  upon 
lace  and  other  things  for  herself.  Sir  W.  Pen  and  I 
went  out  with  Sir  R.  Slingsby  to  bowles  in  his  ally,  and 
there  had  good  sport.  I  took  my  flageolette,  and  played 
upon  the  leads  in  the  garden,  where  Sir  W.  Pen  come 
out  in  his  shirt  into  his  leads,  and  there  we  staid  talking 
and  singing  and  drinking  great  draughts  of  claret,  and 
eating  botargo,  and  bread  and  butter  till  twelve  at 
night,  it  being  moonshine  ;  and  so  to-bed,  very  near 
fuddled. 

71 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

yune  6,  1 66 1. 

My  head  hath  aked  all  night,  and  all  this  morning, 
with  my  last  night's  debauch. 

September  29,  1661. 

(Lord's  day.)  What  at  dinner  and  supper  I  drink,  I 
know  not  how,  of  my  own  accord,  so  much  wine,  that  I 
was  even  almost  foxed,  and  my  head  aked  all  night ;  so 
home  and  to  bed,  without  prayers,  which  I  never  did  yet, 
since  I  come  to  the  house,  of  a  Sunday  night  :  I  being 
now  so  out  of  order  that  I  durst  not  read  prayers,  for  fear 
of  being  perceived  by  my  servants  in  what  case  I  was. 


72 


THE   PEPYSES   WOO   TERPSICHORE 


THE  PEPYSES  WOO  TERPSICHORE 

April  19,  1663. 

(Easter-day.)  Up,  and  this  day  put  on  my  close-kneed 
coloured  suit,  which,  with  new  stockings  of  the  colour, 
with  belt,  and  new  gilt-handled  sword,  is  very  handsome. 
To  church,  where  the  young  Scotchman  preaching,  I 
slept  awhile.  After  supper,  fell  in  discourse  of  dancing, 
and  I  find  that  Ashwell  hath  a  very  fine  carriage,  which 
makes  my  wife  almost  ashamed  of  herself  to  see  herself  so 
outdone,  but  to-morrow  she  begins  to  learn  to  dance  for 
a  month  or  two. 

April  25,  1663. 

In  the  evening,  merrily  practising  the  dance  which 
my  wife  hath  begun  to  learn  this  day  of  Mr.  Pembleton, 
but  I  fear  will  hardly  do  any  great  good  at  it,  because 
she  is  conceited  that  she  do  well  already,  though  I  think 
no  such  thing. 

May  4,  1663. 

The  dancing-master  [Pembleton]  come,  whom  stand- 
ing by,  seeing  him  instructing  my  wife,  when  he  had 

73 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

done  with  her,  he  would  needs  have  me  try  the  steps  of 
a  coranto  ;  and  what  with  his  desire  and  my  wife's 
importunity,  I  did  begin,  and  then  was  obliged  to  give 
him  entry  money  IDS.,  and  am  become  his  scholler. 
The  truth  is,  I  think  it  is  a  thing  very  useful  for  any 
gentleman. 

May  8,  1663. 

At  supper  comes  Pembleton,  and  afterwards  we  all  up 
to  dancing  till  late.  They  say  that  I  am  like  to  make  a 
dancer. 

May  12,  1663. 

A  little  angry  with  my  wife  for  minding  nothing  now 
but  the  dancing-master,  having  him  come  twice  a  day, 
which  is  folly. 


74 


MR.   PEPYS   HAS   PERILOUS   EXPERIENCES 


MR.  PEPYS  HAS  PERILOUS 
EXPERIENCES 

October  23,  1660. 

One  of  Mr.  Shepley's  pistols,  charged  with  bullets, 
flew  off,  and  it  pleased  God  that  the  mouth  of  the  gun 
being  downwards,  it  did  us  no  hurt  j  but  I  think  I  never 
was  in  more  danger  in  my  life. 

September  19,  1662. 

•0 

To  Deptford  and  Woolwich  yard.  At  night,  after  I 
had  eaten  a  cold  pullet,  I  walked  by  brave  moonshine, 
with  three  or  four  armed,  to  guard  me,  to  Redriffe — it 
being  a  joy  to  my  heart  to  think  of  the  condition  that  I 
was  now  in,  that  people  should  of  themselves  provide 
this  for  me,  unspoke  to.  I  hear  this  walk  is  dangerous 
to  walk  by  night,  and  much  robbery  committed  here. 

May  n,  1663. 

On  foot  to  Greenwich,  where,  going,  I  was  set  upon 
by  a  great  dog,  who  got  hold  of  my  garters,  and  might 
have  done  me  hurt  ;  but,  Lord  !  to  see  in  what  a  maze 
I  was,  that,  having  a  sword  about  me,  I  never  thought 

75 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

or  it,  or  had  the  heart  to  make  use  of  it,  but  might,  for 
want  of  that  courage,  have  been  worried. 

June  30,  1664. 

By  water  to  Woolwich,  and  walked  back  from  Wool- 
wich to  Greenwich  all  alone ;  saw  a  man  that  had  a 
cudgell  in  his  hand,  and,  though  he  told  me  he  laboured 
in  the  King's  yard,  and  many  other  good  arguments  that 
he  is  an  honest  man,  yet,  God  forgive  me !  I  did  doubt 
he  might  knock  me  on  the  head  behind  with  his  club. 
But  I  got  safe  home. 

July  n,  1664. 

About  eleven  o'clock,  knowing  what  money  I  have  in 
the  house,  and  hearing  a  noise,  I  begun  to  sweat  worse 
and  worse,  till  I  melted  almost  to  water.  I  rung,  and 
could  not  in  half  an  hour  make  either  of  the  wenches 
hear  me  ;  and  this  made  me  fear  the  more,  lest  they 
might  be  gag'd  ;  and  then  I  began  to  think  that  there 
was  some  design  in  a  stone  being  flung  at  the  window 
over  our  stairs  this  evening,  by  which  the  thiefes  meant 
to  try  what  looking  there  would  be  after  them,  and  know 
our  company.  These  thoughts  and  fears  I  had,  and  do 
hence  apprehend  the  fears  of  all  rich  men  that  are 
covetous,  and  have  much  money  by  them.  At  last, 
Jane  rose,  and  then  I  understand  it  was  only  the  dog 
wants  a  lodging,  and  so  made  a  noyse. 

August  1 6,  1664. 

Wakened  about  two   o'clock    this    morning  with    a 
76 


MR.    PEPYS   HAS    PERILOUS   EXPERIENCES 

noise  of  thunder,  which  lasted  for  an  hour,  with  such 
continued  lightnings,  not  flashes,  but  flames,  that  all  the 
sky  and  ayre  was  light ;  and  that  for  a  great  while, 
not  a  minute's  space  between  new  flames  all  the  time : 
such  a  thing  as  I  never  did  see,  nor  could  have  believed 
had  even  been  in  nature.  And  being  put  into  a  great 
sweat  with  it,  could  not  sleep  till  all  was  over.  And 
that  accompanied  with  such  a  storm  of  rain  as  I 
never  heard  in  my  life.  I  expected  to  find  my  house 
in  the  morning  overflowed  ;  but  I  find  not  one  drop 
of  rain  in  my  house,  nor  any  news  of  hurt  done. 

January  30,  1664-65. 

This  is  solemnly  kept  as  a  fast  all  over  the  City, 
but  I  kept  my  house,  putting  my  closet  to  rights 
again.  To  my  office,  and,  being  late  at  it,  comes 
Mercer  to  me,  to  tell  me  that  my  wife  was  in  bed, 
and  desired  me  to  come  home  ;  for  they  hear,  and  have, 
night  after  night,  lately  heard  noises  over  their  head 
upon  the  leads.  Now,  knowing  that  I  have  a  great 
sum  of  money  in  my  house,  this  puts  me  into  a  most 
mighty  affright,  that  for  more  than  two  hours,  I  could 
not  almost  tell  what  to  do  or  say,  but  feared  this 
night,  and  remembered  that  this  morning  I  saw  a 
woman  and  two  men  stand  suspiciously  in  the  entry,  in 
the  dark  ;  I  calling  to  them,  they  made  me  only  this 
answer,  the  woman  saying  that  the  men  come  to  see  her  ; 
but  who  she  was  I  could  not  tell.  The  truth  is,  my 
house  is  mighty  dangerous,  having  so  many  ways  to  be 
come  to  ;  and  at  my  windows,  over  the  stairs,  to  see  who 

77 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

goes  up  and  down  ;  but,  if  I  escape  to-night,  I  will 
remedy  it.  God  preserve  us  this  night  safe  !  So,  at 
almost  two  o'clock,  I  home  to  my  house,  and,  in  great 
fear,  to  bed,  thinking  every  running  of  a  mouse  really  a 
thief;  and  so  to  sleep,  very  brokenly,  all  night  long,  and 
found  all  safe  in  the  morning. 

July  7,  1666. 

To  bed ;  and  it  proved  the  hottest  night  that  ever  I 
was  in  in  my  life,  and  thundered  and  lightened  all  night 
long,  and  rained  hard.  But,  Lord  !  to  see  in  what  fear  I 
lay  a  good  while,  hearing  of  a  little  noise  of  somebody 
walking  in  the  house  :  so  rung  the  bell,  and  it  was  my 
maids  going  to  bed  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
But  the  fear  of  being  robbed,  having  so  much  money  in 
the  house,  was  very  great,  and  is  still  so,  and  do  much 
disquiet  me. 

July  15,  1666. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  church,  where  our  lecturer  made  a 
sorry  silly  sermon,  upon  the  great  point  of  proving  the 
truth  of  the  Christian  religion.  Walked  to  the  Park,  and 
there,  it  being  mighty  hot  and  I  weary,  lay  down  by  the 
canalle,  upon  the  grass,  and  slept  a  while,  and  was  thinking 
of  a  lampoon  which  hath  run  in  my  head  this  week,  to 
make  up  the  late  fight  at  sea,  and  the  miscarriages  there ; 
but  other  businesses  put  it  out  of  my  head,  and  so  home, 
and  there  drank  a  great  deal  of  small  beer  j  and  so  took 
up  my  wife  and  Betty  Michell  and  her  husband,  and 
away  into  the  fields,  to  take  the  ayre,  as  far  as  beyond 

7» 


MR.    PEPYS   HAS   PERILOUS   EXPERIENCES 

Hackney,  and  so  back  again,  in  our  way  drinking  a  great 
deal  of  milke,  which  I  drank  to  take  away  my  heartburne. 
Home,  and  to  bed  in  some  pain,  and  fear  of  more.  In 
mighty  pain  all  night  long,  which  I  impute  to  the  milk 
that  I  drank  upon  so  much  beer,  and  the  cold,  to  my 
washing  my  feet  the  night  before. 

August  23,  1667. 

Abroad  to  White  Hall  in  a  hackney-coach  with  Sir 
W.  Pen  ;  and  in  our  way,  in  the  narrow  street  near 
Paul's,  going  the  backway  by  Tower  Street,  and  the 
coach  being  forced  to  put  back,  he  was  turning  himself 
into  a  cellar,  which  made  people  cry  out  to  us,  and  so  we 
were  forced  to  leap  out — he  out  of  one,  and  I  out  of  the 
other  door,  Query,  whether  a  glass-coach  would  have  per- 
mitted us  to  have  made  the  escape  ?  neither  of  us  getting 
any  hurt ;  nor  could  the  coach  have  got  much  hurt  had 
we  been  in  it ;  but,  however,  there  was  cause  enough  for 
us  to  do  what  we  could  to  save  ourselves.  So,  being  all 
dusty,  we  put  into  the  Castle  tavern,  by  the  Savoy,  and 
there  brushed  ourselves. 

November  29,  1667. 

Waked  about  seven  o'clock  this  morning  with  a  noise 
I  supposed  I  heard,  near  our  chamber,  of  knocking,  which, 
by  and  by,  increased  :  and  I,  more  awake,  could  dis- 
tinguish it  better.  I  then  waked  my  wife,  and  both  of 
us  wondered  at  it,  and  lay  so  great  a  while,  while  that  in- 
creased, and  at  last  heard  it  plainer,  knocking,  as  if  it 
were  breaking  down  a  window  for  people  to  get  out ;  and 

79 


RED-LETTER   DAYS    OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

then  removing  of  stools  and  chairs  ;  and  plainly,  by  and 
by,  going  up  and  down  our  stairs.  We  lay,  both  of  us, 
afraid  ;  yet  I  would  have  rose,  but  my  wife  would  not  let 
me.  Besides,  I  could  not  do  it  without  making  noise  ; 
and  we  did  both  conclude  that  thieves  were  in  the  house, 
but  wondered  what  our  people  did,  whom  we  thought 
either  killed,  or  afraid,  as  we  were.  Thus  we  lay  till  the 
clock  struck  eight,  and  high  day.  At  last,  I  removed 
my  gown  and  slippers  safely  to  the  other  side  of  the 
bed  over  my  wife  ;  and  there  safely  rose,  and  put  on 
my  gown  and  breeches,  and  then,  with  a  firebrand  in 
my  hand,  safely  opened  the  door,  and  saw  nor  heard 
any  thing.  Then,  with  fear,  I  confess,  went  to  the 
maid's  chamber-door,  and  all  quiet  and  safe.  Called  Jane 
up,  and  went  down  safely,  and  opened  my  chamber-door, 
where  all  well.  Then  more  freely  about,  and  to  the 
kitchen,  where  the  cook-maid  up,  and  all  safe.  So  up 
again,  and  when  Jane  come,  and  we  demanded  whether 
she  heard  no  noise,  she  said,  "  yes,  but  was  afraid,"  but 
rose  with  the  other  maid,  and  found  nothing  ;  but  heard 
a  noise  in  the  great  stack  of  chimnies  that  goes  from  Sir 
J.  Minnes  through  our  house ;  and  so  we  sent,  and  their 
chimnies  have  been  swept  this  morning,  and  the  noise 
was  that,  and  nothing  else.  It  is  one  of  the  most  extra- 
ordinary accidents  in  my  life,  and  gives  ground  to  think 
of  Don  Quixote's  adventures  how  people  may  be  sur- 
prised, and  the  more  from  an  accident  last  night,  that  our 
young  gibb-cat  did  leap  down  our  stairs  from  top  to 
bottom,  at  two  leaps,  and  frighted  us,  that  we  could  not 
tell  well  whether  it  was  the  cat  or  a  spirit,  and  do  some- 

80 


MR.   PEPYS   HAS   PERILOUS   EXPERIENCES 

times   think    this   morning   that   the   house    might    be 
haunted. 

December  30,  1 668. 

My  wife  and  I  to  the  'Change  ;  but,  in  going,  our 
neere  horse  did  fling  himself,  kicking  of  the  coachbox 
over  the  pole  ;  and  a  great  deal  of  trouble  it  was  to  get 
him  right  again,  and  we  forced  to  'light,  and  in  great 
fear  of  spoiling  the  horse,  but  there  was  no  hurt. 


81 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 


MR.    PEPYS   WITH   HIGH   AND   LOW 

May  25,  1660. 

By  the  morning  we  were  come  close  to  the  land,1 
and  every  body  made  ready  to  get  on  shore.  The  King 
and  the  two  Dukes  did  eat  their  breakfast  before  they 
went  ;  and  there  being  set  some  ship's  diet  before  them, 
only  to  show  them  the  manner  of  the  ship's  diet,  they 
eat  of  nothing  else  but  pease  and  pork,  and  boiled  beef. 
I  had  Mr.  Darcy  in  my  cabin  ;  and  Dr.  Clerke,  who 
eat  with  me,  told  me  how  the  King  had  given  ^50  to 
Mr.  Shepley  for  my  Lord's  servants,  and  ^500  among 
the  officers  and  common  men  of  the  ship.  I  spoke  to 
the  Duke  of  York  about  business,  who  called  me  Pepys 
by  name,  and  upon  my  desire  did  promise  me  his  future 
favour.  Great  expectation  of  the  King's  making  some 
Knights,  but  there  was  none.  About  noon  (though  the 
brigantine  that  Beale  made  was  there  ready  to  carry  him) 
yet  he  would  go  in  my  Lord's  barge  with  the  two 
Dukes.  Our  Captain  steered,  and  my  Lord  went  along 
bare  with  him.  I  went,  and  Mr.  Mansell,  and  one  of 
the  King's  footmen,  and  a  dog  that  the  King  loved,  in 

1  The  occasion  was  that  of  the  return  of  the  fleet  to  England  from  a 
cruise  to  Holland.     Mr.  Pepys  had  been  taken  as  secretary. 

82 


MR.    PEPYS   WITH   HIGH   AND   LOW 

a  boat  by  ourselves,  and  so  got  on  shore  when  the  King 
did,   who   was   received    by    General    Monk    with   all 
imaginable  love  and  respect   at  his  entrance  upon  the 
land  at  Dover.     Infinite  the  crowd  of  people  and  the 
gallantry  of  the  horsemen,  citizens,  and  noblemen  of  all 
sorts.     The  Mayor  of  the  town  come  and  give  him  his 
white  staff,  the  badge  of  his  place,  which  the  King  did 
give  him  again.     The  Mayor  also  presented  him  from 
the  town  a  very  rich  Bible,  which  he  took,  and  said  it 
was  the  thing  that  he  loved  above  all  things  in  the  world. 
A  canopy  was  provided  for  him  to  stand  under,  which  he 
did,  and  talked  awhile  with  General  Monk  and  others, 
and  so  into  a  stately   coach  there  set  for  him,  and  so 
away   through  the  town   towards  Canterbury,  without 
making   any   stay   at    Dover.      The  shouting   and  joy 
expressed   by  all    is  past  imagination.     Seeing  that  my 
Lord  did  not  stir  out  of  his  barge,  I   got  into  a  boat, 
and  so  into  his  barge,  and  we  back  to  the  ship,  seeing 
a  man  almost  drowned  that  fell  into  the  sea.     My  Lord 
almost  transported  with  joy  that  he  had  done  all  this 
without  any  the  least  blur  or  obstruction  in  the  world, 
that  could  give  offence  to  any,  and  with  the  great  honour 
he  thought  it  would  be  to  him.     Being  overtook  by  the 
brigantine,  my  Lord  and  we  went  out  of  our  barge  into 
it,  and  so  went  on  board  with  Sir  W.  Batten  and  the 
Vice  and  Rear-Admirals.     At  night,  I  supped  with  the 
Captain,  who  told  me  what   the  King   had  given  us. 
My  Lord  returned  late,  and  at  his  coming  did  give  me 
order  to  cause  the  mark  to  be  gilded,  and  a  Crown  and 
C.R.  to  be  made  at  the  head  of  the  coach  table,  where 

83 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

the  King  to-day  with  his  own  hand  did  mark  his  height, 
which  accordingly  I  caused  the  painter  to  do,  and  is  now 
done,  as  is  to  be  seen. 

November  12,  1660. 

My  father  and  I  discoursed  seriously  about  my  sister's 
coming  to  live  with  me,  and  yet  I  am  much  afraid  of  her 
ill  nature.  I  told  her  plainly  my  mind  was  to  have  her 
come  not  as  a  sister  but  as  a  servant,  which  she  promised 
me  that  she  would,  and  with  many  thanks  did  weep 
for  joy. 

March  25,  1661. 

Homewards,  and  took  up  a  boy  that  had  a  lanthorne, 
that  was  picking  up  of  rags,  and  got  him  to  light  me 
home,  and  had  great  discourse  with  him  how  he  could 
get  sometimes  three  or  four  bushells  of  rags  in  a  day,  and 
got  3d.  a  bushel  for  them,  and  many  other  discourses, 
what  and  how  many  ways  there  are  for  poor  children  to 
get  their  livings  honestly. 

April  20,  1 66 1. 

Comes  my  boy  to  tell  me  that  the  Duke  of  York  had 
sent  for  all  the  principal  officers,  &c.,  to  come  to  him 
to-day.  So  I  went  by  water  to  Mr.  Coventry's,  and 
there  staied  and  talked  a  good  while  with  him  till  all 
the  rest  come.  We  went  up  and  saw  the  Duke  dress 
himself,  and  in  his  night  habitt  he  is  a  very  plain  man. 


MR.    PEPYS  IS    DIPLOMATIC 


MR.   PEPYS   IS  DIPLOMATIC 

July  5,  1662. 

At  noon,  had  Sir  W.  Pen,  who  I  hate  with  all  my 
heart  for  his  base  treacherous  tricks,  but  yet  I  think  it 
not  policy  to  declare  it  yet,  and  his  son  William,  to  my 
house  to  dinner,  where  was  also  Mr.  Creed,  and  my 
cousin  Harry  Alcocke.  I  having  some  venison  given 
me  a  day  or  two  ago,  and  so  I  had  a  shoulder  roasted, 
another  baked,  and  the  umbles  baked  in  a  pie,  and  all 
very  well  done.  We  were  merry  as  I  could  be  in 
that  company. 

July  9,  1662. 

Sir  W.  Pen  come  to  my  office  to  take  his  leave 
of  me,  and,  desiring  a  turn  in  the  garden,  did  commit  the 
care  of  his  building  to  me,  and  offered  all  his  services  to 
me  in  all  matters  of  mine.  I  did,  God  forgive  me  ! 
promise  him  all  my  service  and  love,  though  the  rogue 
knows  he  deserves  none  from  me,  nor  do  I  intend  to 
show  him  any ;  but  as  he  dissembles  with  me,  so  must 
I  with  him.  Come  Mr.  Mills,  the  minister,  to  see  me, 
which  he  hath  rarely  done  to  me,  though  every  day 

85 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

almost  to  others  of  us,  but  he  is  a  cunning  fellow,  and 
knows  where  the  good  victuals  is,  and  the  good  drink, 
at  Sir  W.  Batten's.  However,  I  used  him  civilly,  though 
I  love  him  as  I  do  the  rest  of  his  coat. 

November  5,  1662. 

My  Lady  Batten  did  send  to  speak  with  me,  and  told 
me  very  civilly  that  she  did  not  desire,  nor  hoped  I  did, 
that  anything  should  pass  between  us  but  what  was 
civill,  though  there  was  not  the  neighbourliness  between 
her  and  my  wife  that  was  fit  to  be,  and  so  complained  of 
my  maid's  mocking  of  her.  When  she  called  "  Nan  " 
to  her  maid  within  her  own  house,  my  maid  Jane  in 
the  garden  overheard  her,  and  mocked  her,  and  of  my 
wife's  speaking  unhandsomely  of  her,  to  all  which  I  did 
give  her  a  very  respectfull  answer,  such  as  did  please  her, 
and  am  sorry  indeed  that  this  should  be,  though  I  do  not 
desire  there  should  be  any  acquaintance  between  my 
wife  and  her.  But  I  promised  to  avoid  such  words  and 
passages  for  the  future.  At  night  I  called  up  my  maids, 
and  schooled  Jane,  who  did  answer  me  so  humbly  and 
drolly  about  it,  that,  though  I  seemed  angry,  I  was  much 
pleased  with  her  and  [my]  wife  also. 


86 


MR.   PEPYS  AS   CONVIVIALIST 


MR.   PEPYS  AS  CONVIVIALIST 

August  27,  1660. 

Come  a  vessel  of  Northdown  ale  from  Mr.  Pierce, 
the  purser,  to  me,  and  a  brave  Turkey-carpet  and  a 
jar  of  olives  from  Captain  Cuttance,  and  a  pair  of  fine 
turtle-doves  from  John  Burr  to  my  wife.  Major  Hart 
come  to  me,  whom  I  did  receive  with  wine  and 
anchovies,  which  made  me  so  dry,  that  I  was  ill  with 
them  all  night,  and  was  fain  to  have  the  girl  rise  and 
fetch  me  some  drink. 

September  23,  1660. 

To  the  Hope  Tavern,  and  sent  for  Mr.  Chaplin, 
who  with  Nicholas  Osborne  and  one  Daniel  come  to 
us,  and  we  drank  off  two  or  three  quarts  of  wine, 
which  was  very  good  ;  the  drawing  of  our  wine  causing 
a  great  quarrel  in  the  house  between  the  two  drawers 
which  should  draw  us  the  best,  which  caused  a  great 
deal  of  noise  and  falling  out  till  the  master  parted  them, 
and  came  up  to  us,  and  did  give  a  long  account  of  the 
liberty  that  he  gives  his  servants,  all  alike,  to  draw 
what  wine  they  will  to  please  his  customers  ;  and  [we] 
eat  above  200  walnuts.  Nicholas  Osborne  did  give  me 

8? 


RED-LETTER  DAYS  OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

a  barrell  of  samphire,  and  showed  me  the  keys  of 
Mardyke  Fort,  which  he  that  was  commander  of  the 
fort  sent  him  as  a  token  when  the  fort  was  demolished, 
and  I  will  get  them  of  him  if  I  can. 

January  24,  1 660-61. 

There  dined  with  me  Sir  William  Batten  and  his 
lady  and  daughter,  Sir  W.  Pen,  Mr.  Fox,  (his  lady  being 
ill  could  not  come)  and  Captain  Cuttance  :  the  first 
dinner  I  have  made  since  I  come  hither.  This  cost  me 
above  ^5,  and  merry  we  were — only  my  chimney 
smokes.  To  bed,  being  glad  that  the  trouble  is  over. 

February  27,  1 660-6 1. 

I  called  for  a  dish  of  fish,  which  we  had  for  dinner, 
this  being  the  first  day  of  Lent  ;  and  I  do  intend  to  try 
whether  I  can  keep  it  or  no. 

February  28,  1 660-61. 

Notwithstanding  my  resolution,  yet,  for  want  of 
other  victualls,  I  did  eat  flesh  this  Lent,  but  am  resolved 
to  eat  as  little  as  I  can. 

March  26,  1661. 

Very  merry  at  dinner  :  among  other  things,  because 
Mrs.  Turner  and  her  company  eat  no  flesh  this  Lent, 
and  I  had  a  great  deal  of  good  flesh,  which  made  their 
mouths  water.  To  Salisbury  Court,  and  I  and  my 
wife  sat  in  the  pitt,  and  saw  "The  Bondman"  done  to 
admiration. 

88 


MR.   PEPYS   AS   CONVIVIALIST 


November  3,  1661. 

(Lord's  day.)  At  night,  my  wife  and  I  had  a  good 
supper  by  ourselves  of  a  pullet  hashed,  which  pleased  me 
much  to  see  my  condition  come  to  allow  ourselves  a 
dish  like  that. 

January  26,  1661—62. 

(Lord's  day.)  Thanks  be  to  God,  since  my  leaving 
drinking  of  wine,  I  do  find  myself  much  better,  and 
do  mind  my  business  better  and  do  spend  less  money, 
and  less  time  lost  in  idle  company. 

April  4,  1663. 

This  being  my  feast,  in  lieu  of  what  I  should  have 
had  a  few  days  ago,  for  the  cutting  of  the  stone,  very 
merry  at,  before,  and  after  dinner,  and  the  more  for  that 
my  dinner  was  great,  and  most  neatly  dressed  by  our 
own  only  mayde.  We  had  a  fricasee  of  rabbits,  and 
chickens,  a  leg  of  mutton  boiled,  three  carps  in  a  dish, 
a  great  dish  of  a  side  of  lamb,  a  dish  of  roasted  pigeons, 
a  dish  of  four  lobsters,  three  tarts,  a  lamprey  pie,  a  most 
rare  pie,  a  dish  of  anchoves,  good  wine  of  several 
sorts,  and  all  things  mighty  noble,  and  to  my  great 
content. 

April  22,  1663. 

To  my  uncle  Wight's,  by  invitation,  where  we  had 
but  a  poor  dinner,  and  not  well  dressed  ;  besides,  the 
very  sight  of  my  aunt's  hands,  and  greasy  manner  of 
carving,  did  almost  turn  my  stomach. 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

August  I,  1667. 

Dined  at  Sir  W.  Pen's,  only  with  Mrs.  Turner  and 
her  husband,  on  a  venison  pasty,  that  stunk  like  a  devil. 
However,  I  did  not  know  it  till  dinner  was  done.  We 
had  nothing  but  only  this,  and  a  leg  of  mutton,  and  a 
pullet  or  two. 


90 


MR.   PEPYS'S   WORLDLY   ESTATE 


MR.   PEPYS'S   WORLDLY   ESTATE 

August  6,  1660. 

This  night  Mr.  Man  offered  me  £1,000  for  my  office 
of  Clerk  of  the  Acts,  which  made  my  mouth  water  ; 
but  yet  I  dare  not  take  it  till  I  speak  with  my  Lord 
to  have  his  consent. 

May  30,  1662. 

This  morning  I  made  up  my  accounts,  and  find 
myself  clear  worth  about  £530,  and  no  more,  so  little 
have  I  encreased  it  since  my  last  reckoning,  but  I 
confess  I  have  laid  out  much  money  in  clothes. 

August  31,  1662. 

(Lord's  day.)  News  is  brought  me  that  Sir  W.  Pen 
is  come.  Made  my  monthly  accounts,  and  find  myself 
worth  in  money  about  £686  195.  2|d.,  for  which  God 
be  praised.  I  now  saving  money,  and  my  expenses 
being  very  little. 

October  31,  1663. 

To  my  great  sorrow  find  myself  £43  worse  than  I 
was  the  last  month,  which  was  then  £760,  and  now 

91 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

it  is  but  ^717.  But  it  hath  chiefly  arisen  from  my 
layings-out  in  clothes  for  myself  and  wife  ;  viz.,  for  her 
about  ;£i2,  and  for  myself  £$$,  or  thereabouts  ;  having 
made  myself  a  velvet  cloak,  two  new  cloth  shirts,  black, 
plain  both ;  a  new  shag  gown,  trimmed  with  gold 
buttons  and  twist,  with  a  new  hat,  and  silk  tops  for 
my  legs,  and  many  other  things,  being  resolved  hence- 
forward to  go  like  myself.  And  also  two  perriwiggs, 
one  whereof  costs  me  ^3,  and  the  other  405.  I  have 
worn  neither  yet,  but  will  begin  next  week,  God  willing. 
I  having  laid  out  in  clothes  for  myself,  and  wife,  and  for 
her  closet  and  other  things  without,  these  two  months 
this,  and  the  last,  besides  household  expenses  of 
victualls,  &c.,  above  ^no.  But  I  hope  I  shall  with 
more  comfort  labour  to  get  more,  and  with  better 
successe  than  when,  for  want  of  clothes,  I  was  forced  to 
sneak  like  a  beggar. 

December  25,  1663. 

(Christmas-day.)  My  wife  begun,  I  know  not 
whether  by  design  or  chance,  to  enquire  what  she 
should  do,  if  I  should  by  any  accident  die,  to  which 
I  did  give  her  some  slight  answer,  but  shall  make  good 
use  of  it  to  bring  myself  to  some  settlement  for  her  sake, 
by  making  a  will  as  soon  as  I  can. 

December  31,  1663. 

To  dinner,  my  wife,  and  I,  a  fine  turky  and  a  minced 
pie,  and  dined  in  state,  poor  wretch,  she  and  I,  and  have 
thus  kept  our  Christmas  together  all  alone  almost, 

92 


MR.    PEPYS'S  WORLDLY   ESTATE 

having  not  once  been  out.  At  the  Coffee  [house], 
hearing  some  simple  discourse  about  Quakers  being 
charmed  by  a  string  about  their  wrists.  I  bless  God  I 
do,  after  a  large  expence,  even  this  month,  find  that  I  am 
worth,  in  money,  besides  all  my  household  stuff,  or 
anything  of  Brampton,  above  ^800,  whereof  in  my 
Lord  Sandwich's  hand,  ^700,  and  the  rest  in  my  hand. 
I  do  live  at  my  lodgings  in  the  Navy  Office,  my 
family  being,  besides  my  wife  and  I,  Jane  Gentleman, 
Besse,  our  excellent,  good-natured  cook-maid,  and  Susan, 
a  little  girl,  having  neither  man  nor  boy,  nor  like  to  have 
again  a  good  while,  living  now  in  most  perfect  content 
and  quiet,  and  very  frugally  also ;  my  health  pretty  good. 
At  the  office  I  am  well,  though  envied  to  the  devil  by 
Sir  William  Batten,  who  hates  me  to  death,  but  cannot 
hurt  me.  The  rest  either  love  me,  or  at  least  do  not 
show  otherwise,  though  I  know  Sir  William  Pen  to  be 
a  false  knave  touching  me,  though  he  seems  fair.  My 
father  and  mother  well  in  the  country  ;  and  at  this  time 
the  young  ladies  of  Hinchingbroke  with  them — their 
house  having  the  smallpox  in  it.  The  Queen,  after  a 
long  and  sore  sickness,  is  become  well  again  ;  and  the 
King  minds  his  mistress  a  little  too  much,  if  it  pleased 
God  !  but  I  hope  all  things  will  go  well,  and  in  the 
Navy  particularly,  wherein  I  shall  do  my  duty,  whatever 
comes  of  it.  The  great  talk  is  the  design  of  the  King 
of  France,  whether  against  the  Pope  or  King  of  Spain 
nobody  knows ;  but  a  great  and  most  promising  Prince 
he  is,  and  all  the  Princes  of  Europe  have  their  eye  upon 
him.  My  wife's  brother  come  to  great  unhappiness  by 

93 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

the  ill  disposition,  my  wife  says,  of  his  wife,  and  her 
poverty  which  she  now  professes,  after  all  her  husband's 
pretence  of  a  great  portion.  At  present,  I  am  concerned 
for  my  cozen  Angier,  of  Cambridge,  lately  broke  in  his 
trade,  and  this  day  am  sending  his  son  John,  a  very 
rogue,  to  sea.  My  brother  Tom  I  know  not  what  to 
think  of;  for  I  cannot  hear  whether  he  minds  his 
business  or  not  ;  and  my  brother  John  at  Cambridge, 
with  as  little  hopes  of  doing  good  there ;  for  when  he 
was  here,  he  did  give  me  great  cause  of  dissatisfaction 
with  his  manner  of  life.  Pall  with  my  father  ;  and  God 
knows  what  she  do  there,  or  what  will  become  of  her  ; 
for  I  have  not  anything  yet  to  spare  her,  and  she  grows 
now  old,  and  must  be  disposed  of,  one  way  or  other. 
The  Duchess  of  Yorke  is  growing  well  again.  The 
Turke  very  far  entered  into  Germany,  and  all  that  part 
of  the  world  at  a  loss  what  to  expect  from  his  proceed- 
ing. Myself,  blessed  be  God !  in  a  good  way,  and 
design  and  resolution  of  sticking  to  my  business  to 
get  a  little  money  with,  doing  the  best  service  I  can 
to  the  King  also  j  which  God  continue !  So  ends  the 
old  year. 

February  23,  1663-64. 

(Shrove-Tuesday.)  This  day,  by  the  blessing  of  God, 
I  have  lived  thirty-one  years  in  the  world  :  and,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  I  find  myself  not  only  in  good  health  in 
every  thing,  and  particularly  as  to  the  stone,  but  only 
pain  upon  taking  cold,  and  also  in  a  fair  way  of  coming 
to  a  better  esteem  and  estate  in  the  world,  than  ever  I 

94 


MR.    PEPYS'S   WORLDLY   ESTATE 

expected.     But  I  pray  God  give  me  a  heart  to  fear  a 
fall,  and  to  prepare  for  it ! 

December  31,  1664. 

To  my  accounts  of  the  whole  year  till  past  twelve  at 
night,  it  being  bitter  cold,  but  yet  I  was  well  satisfied 
with  my  work  ;  and  above  all,  to  find  myself,  by  the 
great  blessing  of  God,  worth  £1349,  by  which,  as  I  have 
spent  very  largely,  so  I  have  laid  up  above  £500  this  year 
above  what  I  was  worth  this  day  twelve  month.  The 
Lord  make  me  for  ever  thankful  to  his  holy  name  for  it. 
Soon  as  ever  the  clock  struck  one,  I  kissed  my  wife  in  the 
kitchen  by  the  fireside,  wishing  her  a  merry  new  year. 

So  ends  the  old  year,  I  bless  God,  with  great  joy  to 
me,  not  only  from  my  having  made  so  good  a  year  of 
profit,  as  having  spent  £420  and  laid  up  ^540,  and 
upwards  ;  but  I  bless  God  I  never  have  been  in  so  good 
plight  as  to  my  health  in  so  very  cold  weather  as  this  is, 
nor  indeed  in  any  hot  weather,  these  ten  years,  as  I  am 
at  this  day,  and  have  been  these  four  or  five  months. 
But  I  am  at  a  great  loss  to  know  whether  it  be  my 
hare's  foote,1  or  taking  every  morning  of  a  pill  of 
turpentine,  or  my  having  left  off  the  wearing  of  a  gowne. 
My  family  is  my  wife,  in  good  health,  and  happy  with 
her ;  her  woman  Mercer,  a  pretty,  modest,  quiet  maid  ; 
her  chamber-maid  Besse,  her  cook-maid  Jane,  the  little 
girl  Susan,  and  my  boy,  which  I  have  had  about  half  a 
year,  Tom  Edwards,  which  I  took  from  the  King's 
Chapel  ;  and  as  pretty  and  loving  quiet  a  family  I  have 

1  As  a  charm  against  the  colic. 

95 


RED-LETTER   DAYS  OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

as  any  man  in  England.  My  credit  in  the  world  and  my 
office  grows  daily,  and  I  am  in  good  esteem  with  every- 
body, I  think.  My  troubles  of  my  uncle's  estate  pretty 
well  over  ;  but  it  comes  to  be  of  little  profit  to  us,  my 
father  being  much  supported  by  my  purse.  But  great 
vexations  remain  upon  my  father  and  me  from  my 
brother  Tom's  death  and  ill  condition,  both  to  our 
disgrace  and  discontent,  though  no  great  reason  for  either. 
Public  matters  are  all  in  a  hurry  about  a  Dutch  war. 
Our  preparations  great ;  our  provocations  against  them 
great  ;  and,  after  all  our  presumption,  we  are  now  afraid 
as  much  of  them  as  we  lately  contemned  them.  Every 
thing  else  in  the  State  quiet,  blessed  be  God  !  My  Lord 
Sandwich  at  sea  with  the  fleete,  at  Portsmouth  ;  sending 
some  about  to  cruise  for  taking  of  ships,  which  we  have 
done  to  a  great  number.  This  Christmas  I  judged  it  fit 
to  look  over  all  my  papers  and  books,  and  to  tear  all  that 
I  found  either  boyish  or  not  to  be  worth  keeping,  or  fit 
to  be  seen,  if  it  should  please  God  to  take  me  away 
suddenly. 

March  26,  1665. 

(Lord's  day  and  Easter  day.)  With  my  wife  to 
church.  Home  to  dinner,  my  wife  and  I,  Mercer 
staying  the  Sacrament,  alone.  This  is  the  day  seven 
years  which,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  I  have  survived  of 
my  being  cut  of  the  stone,  and  am  now  in  very  perfect 
good  health,  and  have  long  been  ;  and  though  the  last 
winter  hath  been  as  hard  a  winter  as  any  have  been 
these  many  years,  yet  I  never  was  better  in  my  life,  nor 

96 


MR.   PEPYS'S  WORLDLY   ESTATE 

have  not,  these  ten  years,  gone  colder  \  in  the  summer 
than  I  have  done  all  this  winter,  wearing  only  a  doublet, 
and  a  waistcoat  cut  open  on  the  back  ;  abroad,  a  cloak, 
and  within  doors  a  coat  I  slipped  on.  Now  I  am  at  a 
loss  to  know  whether  it  be  my  hare's  foot  which  is  my 
preservation  ;  for  I  never  had  a  fit  of  the  collique  since  I 
wore  it,  or  whether  it  be  my  taking  of  a  pill  of  turpentine 
every  morning. 

March  4,  1666. 

(Lord's  day.)  All  day  at  my  Tangier  and  private 
accounts,  having  neglected  them  since  Christmas,  which 
I  hope  I  shall  never  do  again  ;  for  I  find  the  incon- 
venience of  it,  it  being  ten  times  the  labour  to 
remember  and  settle  things.  But  I  thank  God  I  did 
it  at  last,  and  brought  them  all  fine  and  right ;  and  I 
am,  I  think,  by  all  appears  to  me — and  I  am  sure  I 
cannot  be  j£io  wrong — worth  about  ^£ 4,600,  for  which 
the  Lord  be  praised,  being  the  biggest  sum  I  ever  was 
worth  yet. 

December  31,  1666. 

To  my  accounts,  wherein,  at  last,  I  find  them  clear 
and  right ;  but,  to  my  great  discontent,  do  find  that  my 
gettings  this  year  have  been  ^573  less  than  my  last  :  it 
being  this  year  in  all  but  ^2,986  ;  whereas,  the  last,  I 
got  j£  3,560.  And  then  again  my  spendings  this  year 
have  exceeded  my  spendings  the  last  by  ^644  :  my 
whole  spendings  last  year  being  but  ^509  j  whereas 
this  year,  it  appears,  I  have  spent  ^£  1,154,  which  is  a 

97  H 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

sum  not  fit  to  be  said  that  ever  I  should  spend  in  one 
year,  before  I  am  master  of  a  better  estate  than  I  am. 
Yet,  blessed  be  God  !  and  I  pray  God  make  me  thank- 
ful for  it,  I  do  find  myself  worth  in  money,  all  good, 
above  ^6,200  ;  which  is  above  ^1,800  more  than  I  was 
the  last  year.  Thus  ends  this  year  of  publick  wonder 
and  mischief  to  this  nation,  and,  therefore,  generally 
wished  by  all  people  to  have  an  end.  Myself  and 
family  well,  having  four  maids  and  one  clerk,  Tom, 
in  my  house,  and  my  brother,  now  with  me,  to  spend 
time  in  order  to  his  preferment.  Our  health  all  well, 
publick  matters  in  a  most  sad  condition ;  seamen  dis- 
couraged for  want  of  pay,  and  are  become  not  to  be 
governed  :  nor,  as  matters  are  now,  can  any  fleete  go 
out  next  year.  Our  enemies,  French  and  Dutch,  great, 
and  grow  more  by  our  poverty.  The  Parliament  back- 
ward in  raising,  because  jealous  of  the  spending  of  the 
money  j  the  City  less  and  less  likely  to  be  built  again, 
every  body  settling  elsewhere,  and  nobody  encouraged 
to  trade.  A  sad,  vicious,  negligent  Court,  and  all  sober 
men  there  fearful  of  the  ruin  of  the  whole  kingdom  this 
next  year ;  from  which,  good  God  deliver  us  !  One 
thing  I  reckon  remarkable  in  my  own  condition  is,  that 
I  am  come  to  abound  in  good  plate,  so  as  at  all  enter- 
tainments to  be  served  wholly  with  silver  plates,  having 
two  dozen  and  a  half. 

April  21,  1667. 

(Lord's  day.)     I  have  a  mind  to  buy  enough  ground 
to  build  a  coach-house  and  stable ;  for  I  have  had  it 


MR.    PEPYS'S   WORLDLY   ESTATE        , 

much  in  my  thoughts  lately  that  it  is  not  too  much 
for  me  now,  in  degree  or  cost,  to  keep  a  coach,  but 
contrarily,  that  I  am  almost  ashamed  to  be  seen  in  a 
hackney. 

May  8,  1667. 

To  enquire  about  the  ground  behind  our  house,  of 
which  I  have  a  mind  to  buy  enough  to  make  a  stable 
and  coach-house  ;  for  I  do  see  that  my  condition  do 
require  it,  as  well  that  it  is  more  charge  to  my  purse  to 
live  as  I  do  than  to  keep  one. 

June  i,  1667. 

Up  ;  and  there  comes  to  me  Mr.  Commander,  whom 
I  employ  about  hiring  of  some  ground  behind  the  office, 
for  the  building  of  me  a  stable  and  coach-house  :  for  I 
do  find  it  necessary  for  me,  both  in  respect  of  honour 
and  the  profit  of  it  also,  my  expense  in  hackney-coaches 
being  now  so  great,  to  keep  a  coach,  and  therefore  will 
do  it. 

May  10,  1668. 

(Lord's  day.)  Mr.  Shepley  come  to  see  me,  and  tells 
me  that  my  Lady  r  had  it  in  her  thoughts,  if  she  had 
occasion,  to  borrow  £100  of  me,  which  I  did  not 
declare  my  opposition  to,  though  I  doubt  it  will  be  so 
much  lost.  But,  however,  I  will  not  deny  my  Lady, 
if  she  ask  it,  whatever  comes  of  it,  though  it  be  lost ; 
but  shall  be  glad  that  it  is  no  bigger  sum. 
1  Lady  Sandwich,  wife  of  Pepys's  patron. 

99 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

December  n,  1668. 

At  last,  concluded  upon  giving  ^50  for  a  fine  pair  of 
black  horses  we  saw  this  day  se'nnight. 

December  12,  1 668. 

This  day  was  brought  home  my  pair  of  black  coach- 
horses,  the  first  I  ever  was  master  of,  a  fine  pair  ! 

December  21,  1 668. 

To  the  Temple,  the  first  time  my  fine  horses  ever 
carried  me,  and  I  am  mighty  proud  of  these.  So  home, 
and  there  dined  with  my  wife  and  my  people  :  and  then 
she,  and  W.  Hewer,  and  I  out  with  our  coach,  but  the 
old  horses,  not  daring  yet  to  use  the  others  too  much,  but 
only  to  enter  them. 

December  23,  1668. 

Home  to  dinner,  and  then  with  my  wife  alone  abroad, 
with  our  new  horses,  the  beautifullest  almost  that  ever  I 
saw,  and  the  first  time  they  ever  carried  her  and  me,  but 
once  j  but  we  are  mighty  proud  of  them. 


100 


MR.    PEPYS   THE   GOSSIP 


MR.   PEPYS   THE   GOSSIP 

July  4,  1663. 

With  Creed  to  the  King's  Head  ordinary  ;  but,  coming 
late,  dined  at  the  second  table  very  well  for  I2d.  ; 
and  a  pretty  gentleman  in  our  company,  who  confirms 
my  Lady  Castlemaine's  being  gone  from  Court,  but 
knows  not  the  reason  ;  he  told  us  of  one  wipe  the  Queen 
a  little  while  ago  did  give  her,  when  she  come  in  and 
found  the  Queen  under  the  dresser's  hands,  and  had  been 
so  long  :  "  I  wonder  your  Majesty,"  says  she,  "  can  have 
the  patience  to  sit  so  long  a-dressing  ? " — "  I  have  so 
much  reason  to  use  patience,"  says  the  Queen,  "  that  I 
can  very  well  bear  with  it." 

May  20,  1664. 

Mr.  Edward  Montagu  is  turned  out  of  the  Court,  not 
to  return  again.  His  fault,  I  perceive,  was  his  pride,  and, 
most  of  all,  his  affecting  to  be  great  with  the  Queen  ; 
and  it  seems  indeed  he  had  more  of  her  ear  than  every- 
body else,  and  would  be  with  her  talking  alone  two  or 
three  hours  together  ;  insomuch  that  the  Lords  about 
the  King,  when  he  would  be  jesting  with  them  about 
their  wives,  would  tell  the  King  that  he  must  have  a 

101 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

care  of  his  wife  too,  for  she  hath  now  the  gallant :  and 
they  say  the  King  himself  did  once  ask  Montagu  how 
his  mistress,  meaning  the  Queen,  did.  He  grew  so 
proud,  and  despised  everybody,  besides  suffering  nobody, 
he  or  she,  to  get  to  do  any  thing  about  the  Queen,  that 
they  all  laboured  to  do  him  a  good  turn.  They  all  say 
that  he  did  give  some  affront  to  the  Duke  of  Monmouth, 
which  the  King  himself  did  speak  to  him  of.  But 
strange  it  is  that  this  man  should,  from  the  greatest 
negligence  in  the  world,  come  to  be  the  miracle  of 
attendance :  so  as  to  take  all  offices  from  everybody, 
either  men  or  women,  about  the  Queen.  So  he  is  gone, 
nobody  pitying,  but  laughing  at  him  ;  and  he  pretends 
only  that  he  is  gone  to  his  father,  that  is  sick  in  the  country. 

February  21,  1664-65. 

My  Lady  Sandwich  tells  me  how  my  Lord  Castle- 
maine  is  coming  over  from  France,  and  it  is  believed  will 
soon  be  made  friends  with  his  Lady  again.  What  mad 
freaks  the  Mayds  of  Honour  at  Court  have  :  that  Mrs. 
Jenings,  one  of  the  Dutchess's  maids,  the  other  day 
dressed  herself  like  an  orange  wench,  and  went  up  and 
down  and  cried  oranges  ;  till,  falling  down,  or  by  some 
accident,  her  fine  shoes  were  discerned,  and  she  put  to  a 
great  deal  of  shame ;  that  such  as  these  tricks,  being 
ordinary,  and  worse  among  them,  thereby  few  will 
venture  upon  them  for  wives  :  my  Lady  Castlemaine 
will  in  merriment  say,  that  her  daughter,  now  above  a 
year  old  or  two,  will  be  the  first  mayd  in  the  Court  that 
will  be  married. 

102 


MR.    PEPYS  THE   GOSSIP 


July  7,  1666. 

Creed  tells  me,  he  finds  all  things  mighty  dull  at 
Court  ;  and  that  they  now  begin  to  lie  long  in  bed  ;  it 
being,  as  we  suppose,  not  seemly  for  them  to  be  found 
playing  and  gaming  as  they  used  to  be ;  nor  that  their 
minds  are  at  ease  enough  to  follow  those  sports,  and  yet 
not  knowing  how  to  employ  themselves,  though  there  be 
work  enough  for  their  thoughts  and  councils  and  pains, 
they  keep  long  in  bed.  But  he  thinks  with  me,  that 
there  is  nothing  in  the  world  can  help  us  but  the  King's 
personal  looking  after  his  business  and  his  officers,  and 
that,  with  that,  we  may  yet  do  well ;  but  otherwise  must 
be  undone  ;  nobody  at  this  day  taking  care  of  any  thing, 
nor  hath  any  body  to  call  him  to  account  for  it. 

July  12,  1666. 

Away  to  St.  James's,  and  with  Sir  W.  Coventry  into 
London,  to  the  office.  And  all  the  way  I  observed  him 
mightily  to  make  mirth  of  the  Duke  of  Albemarle  and 
his  people  about  him,  saying,  that  he  was  the  happiest 
man  in  the  world  for  doing  of  great  things  by  sorry 
instruments  ;  and  so  particularized  in  Sir  W.  Clerke,  and 
Riggs,  and  Halsey,  and  others  ;  and  then,  again,  said  that 
the  only  quality  eminent  in  him  was,  that  he  did  per- 
severe ;  and  indeed  he  is  a  very  drudge,  and  stands  by  the 
King's  business.  And  this  he  said,  that  one  thing  he  was 
good  at,  that  he  never  would  receive  an  excuse  if  the 
thing  was  not  done  ;  listening  to  no  reason  for  it,  be  it 
good  or  bad.  And  then  he  begun  to  say  what  a  great 
man  Warcupp  was,  and  something  else,  and  what  was 

103 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

that  but  a  great  Iyer  ;  and  told  me  a  story,  how  at  table 
he  did,  they  speaking  about  antipathys,  say,  that  a  rose 
touching  his  skin  anywhere  would  make  it  rise  and 
pimple ;  and,  by  and  by  the  dessert  coming,  with  roses 
upon  it,  the  Duchess  bid  him  try,  and  they  did  ;  but 
they  rubbed  and  rubbed,  but  nothing  would  do  in  the 
world,  by  which  his  lie  was  found.  He  spoke  con- 
temptibly of  Holmes  and  his  mermidons,  that  come  to 
take  done  the  ships  from  hence,  and  have  carried  them 
without  any  necessaries,  or  anything  almost,  that  they 
will  certainly  be  longer  getting  ready  than  if  they  had  staid 
here.  In  fine,  I  do  observe  he  hath  no  esteem  nor  kind- 
ness for  the  Duke's  matters,  but,  contrarily,  do  slight  him 
and  them  ;  and  I  pray  God  the  kingdom  do  not  pay  too 
dear  by  this  jarring  ;  though  this  blockheaded  Duke  I 
did  never  expect  better  from. 

August  21,  1666. 

Mr.  Batelier  told  me  how,  being  with  some  others  at 
Bourdeaux,  making  a  bargain  with  another  man  at  a 
taverne  for  some  clarets,  they  did  hire  a  fellow  to  thunder, 
which  he  had  the  art  of  doing,  upon  a  deale  board,  and  to 
rain  and  hail,  that  is,  make  the  noise  of,  so  as  did  give 
them  a  pretence  of  undervaluing  their  merchants'  wines, 
by  saying  this  thunder  would  spoil  and  turn  them,  which 
was  so  reasonable  to  the  merchant,  that  he  did  abate  two 
pistolls  per  ton  for  the  wine,  in  belief  of  that. 

September  19,  1666. 

To  White  Hall,  with    Sir  W.  Batten   and    Sir   W. 
104 


MR.   PEPYS   THE   GOSSIP 


Pen,  to  Wilkes's  :  and  there  did  hear  many  stories  of  Sir 
Henry  Wood,  about  Lord  Norwich  drawing  a  tooth  at  a 
health.  Another  time,  he,  and  Pinchbacke,  and  Dr. 
Goffe,  now  a  religious  man,  Pinchbacke  did  begin  a 
frolick  to  drink  out  of  a  glass  with  a  toad  in  it  :  he 
did  it  without  harm.  Goffe,  who  knew  sack  would 
kill  the  toad,  called  for  sack  ;  and,  when  he  saw  it  dead, 
says  he,  "I  will  have  a  quick  toad,  and  will  not  drink 
from  a  dead  toad."  By  that  means,  no  other  being  to  be 
found,  he  escaped  the  health. 

October  15,  1666. 

Colvill  tells  me  of  the  viciousness  of  the  Court  :  the 
contempt  the  King  brings  himself  into  thereby ;  his 
minding  nothing,  but  doing  all  things  just  as  his  people 
about  him  will  have  it  !  the  Duke  of  York  becoming  a 
slave  to  this  Lady  Denham,  and  wholly  minds  her. 
That  there  really  were  amours  between  the  Duchess  and 
Sydney  ;  that  Sir  W.  Coventry  is  of  the  caball  with  the 
Duke  of  York,  and  Brouncker,  with  this  Lady  Denham  : 
which  is  a  shame,  and  I  am  sorry  for  it,  and  that  Sir 
W.  Coventry  do  make  her  visits ;  but  yet  I  hope  it  is  not 
so.  Pierce  tells  me,  that  as  little  agreement  as  there  is 
between  the  Prince  and  Duke  of  Albemarle,  yet  they  are 
likely  to  go  to  sea  again  ;  for  the  first  will  not  be  trusted 
alone,  and  nobody  will  go  with  him  but  this  Duke  of 
Albemarle.  He  tells  me  much  how  all  the  commanders 
of  the  fleete  and  officers  that  are  sober  men  do  cry  out 
upon  their  bad  discipline,  and  the  ruine  that  must  follow 
it  if  continued.  But  that  which  I  wonder  most  at — it 

105 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

seems  their  secretaries  have  been  the  most  exorbitant  in 
their  fees  to  all  sorts  of  the  people,  that  it  is  not  to  be 
believed  that  they  durst  do  it,  so  as  it  is  believed  they 
have  got  ^800  a-piece  by  the  very  vacancies  in  the  fleete. 
He  tells  me  that  Lady  Castlemaine  is  concluded  to  be 
with  child  again  ;  and  that  all  the  people  about  the 
King  do  make  no  scruple  of  saying  that  the  King  do 
intrigue  with  Mrs.  Stewart,  who,  he  says,  is  a  most 
excellent  natured  lady. 

November  29,  1666. 

To  show  how  mad  we  are  at  home,  here,  and  unfit 
for  any  troubles :  my  Lord  St.  John  did,  a  day  or  two 
since,  openly  pull  a  gentleman  in  Westminster  Hall  by 
the  nose,  one  Sir  Andrew  Henly,  while  the  Judges  were 
upon  their  benches,  and  the  other  gentleman  did  give 
him  a  rap  over  the  pate  with  his  cane,  of  which  fray  the 
Judges,  they  say,  will  make  a  great  matter  :  men  are  only 
sorry  the  gentleman  did  proceed  to  return  a  blow  ;  for, 
otherwise,  my  Lord  would  have  been  soundly  fined  for 
the  affront,  and  may  be  yet  for  his  affront  to  the  Judges. 

April  20,  1667. 

Met  Mr.  Rolt,  who  tells  me  the  reason  of  no  play 
to-day  at  the  King's  house.  That  Lacy  had  been 
committed  to  the  porter's  lodge  for  his  acting  his  part  in 
the  late  new  play,  and  being  thence  released  to  come  to 
the  King's  house,  he  there  met  with  Ned  Howard,  the 
poet  of  the  play,  who  congratulated  his  release ;  upon 
which  Lacy  cursed  him  as  that  it  was  the  fault  of  his 

106 


MR.   PEPYS  THE   GOSSIP 


nonsensical  play  that  was  the  cause  of  his  ill  usage.  Mr. 
Howard  did  give  him  some  reply;  to  which  Lacy 
answered  him,  that  he  was  more  a  fool  than  a  poet ;  upon 
which  Howard  did  give  him  a  blow  on  the  face  with  his 
glove  ;  on  which  Lacy,  having  a  cane  in  his  hand,  did 
give  him  a  blow  over  the  pate.  Here  Rolt  and  others 
that  discoursed  of  it  in  the  pit  did  wonder  that  Howard 
did  not  run  him  through,  he  being  too  mean  a  fellow  to 
fight  with.  But  Howard  did  not  do  any  thing  but  com- 
plain to  the  King  of  it ;  so  the  whole  house  is  silenced, 
and  the  gentry  seem  to  rejoice  much  at  it,  the  house 
being  become  too  insolent. 

December  6,  1667. 

Sir  J.  Minnes  told  me  a  story  of  my  Lord  Cottington, 
who,  wanting  a  son,  intended  to  make  his  nephew  his 
heir,  a  country  boy  ;  but  did  alter  his  mind  upon  the 
boy's  being  persuaded  by  another  young  heir,  in  roguery, 
to  crow  like  a  cock  at  my  Lord's  table,  much  company 
being  there,  and  the  boy  having  a  great  trick  at  doing 
that  perfectly.  My  Lord  bade  them  take  away  that  fool 
from  the  table,  and  so  gave  over  the  thoughts  of  making 
him  his  heir,  from  this  piece  of  folly. 

February  13,  1667-68. 

Mr.  Brisband  tells  me  in  discourse  that  Tom  Killigrew 
hath  a  fee  out  of  the  Wardrobe  for  cap  and  bells,  under 
the  title  of  the  King's  Foole  or  Jester  ;  and  may  revile  or 
jeere  any  body,  the  greatest  person,  without  offence,  by 
the  privilege  of  his  place. 

107 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 


MR.   PEPYS   IS  GREGARIOUS 

August  2O,  1662. 

Meeting  Mr.  Townsend,  he  would  needs  take  me  to 
Fleet  Street,  to  one  Mr.  Harwell,  squire  sadler  to  the 
King,  and  there  we  and  several  other  Wardrobe-men 
dined.  We  had  a  venison  pasty,  and  other  good,  plain, 
and  handsome  dishes — the  mistress  of  the  house,  a  pretty 
well-carriaged  woman,  and  a  fine  hand  she  hath;  and  her 
maid  a  pretty  brown  lass. 

August  21,  1662. 

To  Mr.  Rawlinson's,  where  my  uncle  Wight  and  my 
aunt,  and  some  neighbour  couples,  were  at  a  very  good 
venison  pasty.  Hither  come,  after  we  were  set  down,  a 
most  pretty  young  lady,  only  her  hands  were  not  white 
nor  handsome,  which  pleased  me  well,  and  I  found  her 
to  be  sister  to  Mrs.  Anne  Wight.  We  were  good 
company,  and  had  a  very  pretty  dinner. 

February  3,  1663-64. 

To  the  Mitre  taverne,  and  there  met  with  W.  Howe 
come  to  buy  wine  for  my  Lord  against  his  going  down 

108 


MR.   PEPYS   IS   GREGARIOUS 


to  Hinchingbroke,  and  I  private  with  him,  a  great  while 
discoursing  of  my  Lord's  strangeness  to  me  ;  but  he 
answers  that  I  have  no  reason  to  think  any  such  thing, 
but  that  my  Lord  is  only  in  general  a  more  reserved  man 
than  he  was  before.  My  wife  is  full  of  sad  stories  of  her 
good-natured  father,  and  roguish  brother,  who  is  going 
for  Holland,  and  his  wife,  to  be  a  soldier.  In  Covent 
Garden  to-night,  going  to  fetch  home  my  wife,  I  stopped 
at  the  great  Coffee-house x  there,  where  I  never  was 
before  :  where  Dryden,  the  poet,  I  knew  at  Cambridge, 
and  all  the  wits  of  the  town,  and  Harris  the  player,  and 
Mr.  Hoole,  of  our  College.  And,  had  I  had  time  then, 
or  could  at  other  times,  it  will  be  good  coming  thither, 
for  there,  I  perceive,  is  very  witty  and  pleasant  discourse. 
But  I  could  not  tarry,  and,  as  it  was  late,  they  were  all 
ready  to  go  away. 

1  This  was  Wills'  Coffee  House,  where  Dryden  had  a  chair  reserved  for 
him  near  the  fireplace  in  winter,  and  which  was  carried  into  the  balcony 
for  him  in  summer.  It  was  on  the  west  side  of  Bow  Street,  and  at  the 
corner  of  Russell  Street,  and  took  its  name  from  "  William  Urwin,"  the 
landlord. — Handbook  of  London,  p.  554,  edit.  1850. 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 


THE   HABILIMENTS   OF   MR.   PEPYS 

July  I,  1660. 

(Lord's  day.)  Infinite  of  business,  my  heart  and  head 
full.  Met  with  Purser  Washington,  with  whom  and  a 
lady,  a  friend  of  his,  I  dined  at  the  Bell  Tavern  in  King 
Street,  but  the  rogue  had  no  more  manners  than  to  invite 
me  and  let  me  pay  my  club.  This  morning  come  home 
my  fine  camlet  cloak,  with  gold  buttons,  and  a  silk  suit, 
which  cost  me  much  money,  and  I  pray  God  to  make 
me  able  to  pay  for  it.  In  the  afternoon  to  the  Abbey, 
where  a  good  sermon  by  a  stranger,  but  no  Common 
Prayer  yet. 

May  n,  1661. 

To  Graye's  Inn,  and  there  to  a  barber's,  where  I  was 
trimmed  and  had  my  haire  cutt,  in  which  I  am  lately 
become  a  little  curious,  finding  that  the  length  of  it  do 
become  me  very  much. 

November  i,  1663. 

(Lord's  day.)  This  morning  my  brother's  man  brought 
me  a  new  black  baize  waiste-coate,  faced  with  silk, 

no 


THE   HABILIMENTS   OF   MR.   PEPYS 

which  I  put  on,  from  this  day  laying  by  half-shirts  for 
this  winter.  He  brought  me  also  my  new  gown  of 
purple  shagg  :  also,  as  a  gift  from  my  brother,  a  velvet 
hat,  very  fine  to  ride  in,  and  the  fashion,  which 
pleases  me. 

November  3,  1663. 

Home,  and  by  and  by  comes  Chapman,  the  periwigg- 
maker,  and  upon  my  liking  it,  without  more  ado  I  went 
up,  and  there  he  cut  off  my  haire,  which  went  a  little  to 
my  heart  at  present  to  part  with  it ;  but,  it  being  over, 
and  my  periwigg  on,  I  paid  him  £3  for  it ;  and  away 
went  he,  with  my  own  haire,  to  make  up  another  of ; 
and  I,  by  and  by,  went  abroad,  after  I  had  caused  all  my 
maids  to  look  upon  it ;  and  they  conclude  it  do  become 
me  ;  though  Jane  was  mightily  troubled  for  my  parting 
of  my  own  haire,  and  so  was  Besse. 

November  8,  1663. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  church,  where  I  found  that  my 
coming  in  a  perriwigg  did  not  prove  so  strange  as  I  was 
afraid  it  would,  for  I  thought  that  all  the  church  would 
presently  have  cast  their  eyes  all  upon  me,  but  I  found  no 
such  thing. 

November  9,  1663. 

To  the  Duke,  where,  when  we  come  into  his  closet, 
he  told  us  that  Mr.  Pepys  was  so  altered  with  his  new 
perriwigg  that  he  did  not  know  him. 

Ill 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

November  13,  1663. 

After  dinner,  come  my  perriwigg-maker,  and  brings 
me  a  second  periwigg,  made  of  my  own  hair,  which 
comes  to  2 is.  6d.  more  than  the  worth  of  my  own  hair, 
so  that  they  both  come  to  ^4  is.  6d.,  which  he  sayth 
will  serve  me  two  years,  but  I  fear  it.  He  being  gone,  I 
to  my  office,  and  put  on  my  new  shagg  purple  gown, 
with  gold  buttons  and  loop-lace. 

May  i,  1669. 

Up  betimes.  Called  by  my  tailor,  and  there  first  put 
on  a  summer  suit  this  year  ;  but  it  was  not  my  fine  one 
of  flowered  tabby  vest,  and  coloured  camelott  tunique, 
because  it  was  too  fine  with  the  gold  lace  at  the  bands, 
that  I  was  afraid  to  be  seen  in  it ;  but  put  on  the  stuff 
suit  I  made  the  last  year,  which  is  now  repaired  ;  and  so 
did  go  to  the  Office  in  it,  and  sat  all  the  morning,  the 
day  looking  as  if  it  would  be  fowle.  At  noon  home  to 
dinner,  and  there  find  my  wife  extraordinary  fine,  with 
her  flowered  tabby  gown  that  she  made  two  years  ago, 
now  laced  exceeding  pretty  ;  and,  indeed,  was  fine  all 
over  ;  and  mighty  earnest  to  go,  though  the  day  was 
very  lowering  ;  and  she  would  have  me  put  on  my  fine 
suit,  which  I  did.  And  so  anon  we  went  alone  through 
the  town  with  our  new  liveries  of  serge,  and  the  horses' 
manes  and  tails  tied  with  red  ribbons,  and  the  standards 
gilt  with  varnish,  and  all  clean,  and  green  reines,  that 
people  did  mightily  look  upon  us  ;  and,  the  truth  is,  I 
did  not  see  any  coach  more  pretty,  though  more  gay, 
than  our's,  all  the  day. 

112 


MR.   PEPYS  AS  A   HOST 


MR.   PEPYS  AS  A  HOST 

December  18,  1662. 

Mr.  Coventry  inviting  himself  to  my  house  to  dinner, 
of  which  I  was  proud ;  but  my  dinner  being  a  legg  ot 
mutton  and  two  capons,  they  were  not  done  enough, 
which  did  vex  me ;  but  we  made  shift  to  please  him, 
I  think  ;  but  I,  when  he  was  gone,  very  angry  with 
my  wife  and  people. 

January  13,  1662-63. 

My  poor  wife  rose  by  five  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
before  day,  and  went  to  market  and  bought  fowles  and 
many  other  things  for  dinner,  with  which  I  was  highly 
pleased,  and  the  chine  of  beef  was  down  also  before  six 
o'clock,  and  my  own  jacke,  of  which  I  was  doubtfull, 
do  carry  it  very  well,  things  being  put  in  order,  and  the 
cook  come.  By  and  by  comes  Dr.  Clerke  and  his  lady, 
his  sister,  and  a  she-cosen,  and  Mr.  Pierce  and  his  wife, 
which  was  all  my  guests.  I  had  for  them,  after  oysters, 
at  first  course,  a  hash  of  rabbits  and  lamb,  and  a  rare 
chine  of  beef.  Next,  a  great  dish  of  roasted  fowle,  cost 
me  about  305.,  and  a  tart,  and  then  fruit  and  cheese. 

113  I 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

My  dinner  was  noble,  and  enough.  I  had  my  house 
mighty  clean  and  neat;  my  room  below  with  a  good 
fire  in  it ;  my  dining-room  above,  and  my  chamber  being 
made  a  withdrawing-chamber  ;  and  my  wife's  a  good 
fire,  also.  I  find  my  new  table  very  proper,  and  will 
hold  nine  or  ten  people  well,  but  eight  with  great  room. 
At  supper,  had  a  good  sack  posset  and  cold  meat,  and 
sent  my  guests  away  about  ten  o'clock  at  night,  both 
them  and  myself  highly  pleased  with  our  management  of 
this  day ;  and  indeed  their  company  was  very  fine,  and 
Mrs.  Clerke  a  very  witty,  fine  lady,  though  a  little 
conceited  and  proud.  I  believe  this  day's  feast  will  cost 
me  near  ^5. 

January  8,  1663-64. 

By  appointment,  took  Luellin,  Mount,  and  W. 
Symons,  and  Mr.  Pierce,  the  surgeon,  home  to  dinner 
with  me,  and  were  merry.  We  spent  all  the  afternoon 
together,  and  then  to  cards  with  my  wife,  who  this  day 
put  on  her  Indian  blue  gown,  which  is  very  pretty. 
We  had  great  pleasure  this  afternoon,  among  other 
things,  to  talk  of  our  old  passages  together  in  Cromwell's 
time ;  and  how  W.  Symons  did  make  me  laugh  and 
wonder  to-day  when  he  told  me  how  he  had  made  shift 
to  keep  in,  in  good  esteem  and  employment,  through 
eight  governments  in  one  year,  the  year  1659,  which 
were  indeed,  and  he  did  name  them  all ;  and  then  failed 
unhappy  in  the  ninth,  viz.,  that  of  the  King's  coming  in. 
He  made  good  to  me  the  story  which  Luellin  did  tell  me 
the  other  day,  of  his  wife  upon  her  death-bed  ;  how  she 

114 


MR.    PEPYS   AS  A   HOST 


dreamt  of  her  uncle  Scobell,  and  did  foretell,  from  some 
discourse  she  had  with  him,  that  she  should  die  four  days 
thence,  and  not  sooner,  and  did  all  along  say  so,  and 
did  so. 

September  9,  1664. 

Up,  and  put  things  in  order  against  dinner.  I  out 
and  bought  some  things  :  among  others,  a  dozen  of  silver 
salts  ;  and  at  noon  comes  my  company,  namely,  Anthony 
and  Will  Joyce  and  their  wives  ;  my  aunt  James,  newly 
come  out  of  Wales,  and  my  cozen  Sarah  Gyles.1  Her 
husband  did  not  come  ;  and  by  her  I  did  understand, 
afterwards,  that  it  was  because  he  was  not  able  to  pay 
me  the  405.  she  had  borrowed  a  year  ago  of  me.  I  was 
as  merry  as  I  could,  giving  them  a  good  dinner ;  but 
W.  Joyce  did  so  talk,  that  he  made  everybody  else 
dumb,  but  only  laugh  at  him.  I  forgot  there  was  Mr. 
Harman  and  his  wife,  my  aunt,  a  very  good  harmless 
woman.  All  their  talk  is  of  her  and  my  two  she-cozen 
Joyces,  and  Will's  little  boy  Will,  who  was  also  here 
to-day.  They  eyed  mightily  my  great  cupboard  of 
plate — I  this  day  putting  my  two  flaggons  upon  my 
table  ;  and  indeed  it  is  a  fine  sight,  and  better  than  ever 
I  did  hope  to  see  of  my  own.  Mercer  dined  with  us  at 
table,  this  being  her  first  dinner  in  my  house.  After 
dinner,  my  wife  and  Mercer,  and  Tom  and  I,  sat  till 

1  Pepys  would  have  been  more  proud  of  his  cousin  had  he  anticipated  her 
husband's  becoming  a  Knight,  for  she  was  probably  the  same  person  whose 
burial  is  recorded  in  the  register  of  St.  Helen's,  Bishopsgate,  September  4, 
1704  :  "Dame  Sarah  Gyles,  widow,  relict  of  Sir  John  Gyles." 

"5 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

eleven  at  night,  singing  and  fiddling,  and  a  great  joy  it 
is  to  see  me  master  of  so  much  pleasure  in  my  house. 
The  girle  plays  pretty  well  upon  the  harpsichon,  but 
only  ordinary  tunes,  but  hath  a  good  hand  :  sings  a 
little,  but  hath  a  good  voyce  and  eare.  My  boy,  a  brave 
boy,  sings  finely,  and  is  the  most  pleasant  boy  at  present, 
while  his  ignorant  boy's  tricks  last,  that  ever  I  saw. 

January  24,  1666—67. 

I  home,  where  most  of  my  company  come  of  this  end 
of  the  town — Mercer  and  her  sister,  Mr.  Batelier  and 
Pembleton,  my  Lady  Pen,  and  Pegg,  and  Mr.  Lowther, 
but  did  not  stay  long  and  I  believe  it  was  by  Sir  W. 
Pen's  order  ;  for  they  had  a  great  mind  to  have  staid, 
and  also  Captain  Rolt.  And  anon,  at  about  seven  or 
eight  o'clock,  comes  Mr.  Harris,  of  the  Duke's  play- 
house, and  brings  Mrs.  Pierce  with  him,  and  also  one 
dressed  like  a  country-maid  with  a  straw  hat  on  ;  and, 
at  first,  I  could  not  tell  who  it  was,  though  I  expected 
Knipp  :  but  it  was  she  coming  off  the  stage  just  as  she 
acted  this  day  in  "  The  Goblins"  ;  a  merry  jade.  Now 
my  house  is  full,  and  four  fiddlers  that  play  well.  Harris 
I  first  took  to  my  closet  ;  and  I  find  him  a  very  curious 
and  understanding  person  in  all  pictures  and  other  things, 
and  a  man  of  fine  conversation  ;  and  so  is  Rolt.  So 
away  with  all  my  company  down  to  the  office,  and  there 
fell  to  dancing,  and  continued  at  it  an  hour  or  two,  there 
coming  Mrs.  Anne  Jones,  a  merchant's  daughter  hard 
by,  who  dances  well,  and  all  in  mighty  good  humour,  and 
danced  with  great  pleasure ;  and  then  sung  and  then 

116 


MR.    PEPYS  AS   A   HOST 


danced,  and  then  sung  many  things  of  three  voices — both 
Harris  and  Rolt  singing  their  parts  excellently.  Among 
other  things,  Harris  sung  his  Irish  song — the  strangest  in 
itself,  and  the  prettiest  sung  by  him,  that  ever  I  heard. 
Then  to  supper  in  the  Office,  a  cold,  good  supper,  and 
wondrous  merry.  Here  was  Mrs.  Turner,  also,  and 
Mrs.  Markham  :  after  supper  to  dancing  again  and  sing- 
ing, and  so  continued  till  almost  three  in  the  morning, 
and  then,  with  extraordinary  pleasure,  broke  up — only 
towards  morning,  Knipp  fell  a  little  ill,  and  so  my  wife 
home  with  her  to  put  her  to  bed,  and  we  continued 
dancing  and  singing ;  and,  among  other  things,  our 
Mercer  unexpectedly  did  happen  to  sing  an  Italian  song 
I  know  not,  of  which  they  two  sung  the  other  two 
parts — two  that  did  almost  ravish  me,  and  made  me  in 
love  with  her  more  than  ever  with  her  singing.  As  late 
as  it  was,  yet  Rolt  and  Harris  would  go  home  to-night, 
and  walked  it,  though  I  had  a  bed  for  them  ;  and  it 
proved  dark,  and  a  misty  night,  and  very  windy.  The 
company  being  all  gone  to  their  homes,  I  up  with  Mrs. 
Pierce  to  Knipp,  who  was  in  bed  ;  and  we  waked  her, 
and  sung  a  song,  and  then  left  my  wife  to  see  Mrs. 
Pierce  in  bed  to  her,  in  our  best  chamber,  and  so  to  bed 
myself,  my  mind  mightily  satisfied  j  only  the  musique 
did  not  please  me,  they  not  being  contented  with  less 
than  305. 

April  8,  1667. 

Home,  and  there  find  all  things  in  readiness  for  a  good 
dinner.     By  and  by  come  my  guests,  Dr.  Clerke  and  his 

117 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

wife,  and  Mrs.  Worshipp,  and  her  daughter  ;  and  then 
Mr.  Pierce  and  his  wife,  and  boy,  and  Betty ;  and  then 
I  sent  for  Mercer  ;  so  that  we  had,  with  my  wife  and  I, 
twelve  at  table,  and  very  good  and  pleasant  company, 
and  a  most  neat  and  excellent,  but  dear  dinner  ;  but, 
Lord  !  to  see  with  what  way  they  looked  upon  all  my 
fine  plate  was  pleasant ;  for  I  made  the  best  show  I 
could,  to  let  them  understand  me  and  my  condition,  to 
take  down  the  pride  of  Mrs.  Clerke,  who  thinks  herself 
very  great.  We  sat  long  ;  and,  after  dinner,  went  out 
by  coaches,  thinking  to  have  seen  a  play,  but  come  too 
late  to  both  houses,  and  then  they  had  thoughts  of  going 
abroad  somewhere ;  but  I  thought  all  the  charge  ought 
to  be  mine,  and  therefore  I  endeavoured  to  part  the 
company ;  and  so  ordered  it  to  set  them  all  down  at 
Mrs.  Pierce's ;  and  there  my  wife  and  I  and  Mercer  left 
them  in  good  humour,  and  we  three  to  the  King's  house, 
and  saw  the  latter  end  of  "  The  Surprisall,"  wherein  was 
no  great  matter.  Thence  away  to  Polichinello,  and 
there  had  three  times  more  sport  than  at  the  play,  and 
so  home. 

September  n,  1667. 

Come  to  dine  with  me  Sir  W.  Batten  and  his  lady, 
and  Mr.  Griffith,  their  ward,  and  Sir  W.  Pen  and  his 
lady,  and  Mrs.  Lowther,  who  is  grown,  either  through 
pride  or  want  of  manners,  a  fool,  having  not  a  word  to 
say ;  and,  as  a  further  mark  of  a  beggarly,  proud  fool, 
hath  a  bracelet  of  diamonds  and  rubies  about  her  wrist, 
and  a  sixpenny  necklace  about  her  neck,  and  not  one 


MR.   PEPYS  AS  A  HOST 


good  rag  of  clothes  upon  her  back  ;  and  Sir  John 
Chichly  in  their  company,  and  Mrs.  Turner.  Here  I 
had  an  extraordinary  good  and  handsome  dinner  for 
them,  better  than  any  of  them  deserve  or  understand, 
saving  Sir  John  Chichly  and  Mrs.  Turner,  and  not  much 
mirth,  only  what  I  by  discourse  made,  and  that  against 
my  genius. 


119 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF  SAMUEL    PEPYS 


MR.   PEPYS  AND    HIS    PATRON,   LORD 
SANDWICH 

November  14,  1663. 

Mr.  Moore  come  to  tell  me  that  he  had  no  opportunity 
of  speaking  his  mind  to  my  Lord  yesterday,  and  so  I  am 
resolved  to  write  to  him  very  suddenly. 

November  15,  1663. 

(Lord's  day.)  Jn  the  afternoon,  drew  up  a  letter  to 
my  Lord,  stating  to  him  what  the  world  talks  concerning 
him,  and  leaving  it  to  him  and  myself  to  be  thought  of 
by  him  as  he  pleases,  but  I  have  done  but  my  duty  in 
it.  f  wait  Mr.  Moore's  coming,  for  his  advice  about 
sending  it. 

November  18,  1663. 

This  morning  I  sent  Will  with  my  great  letter  01 
reproof  to  Lord  Sandwich,  who  did  give  it  into  his  own 
hand.  I  pray  God  give  a  blessing  to  it  5  but  I  confess 
[  am  afraid  what  the  consequences  may  be  to  me  of 
good  or  bad,  which  is  according  to  the  ingenuity  that  he 
do  receive  it  with.  However,  I  am  satisfied  that  it  will 
do  him  good,  and  that  he  needs  it. 


120 


EDWARD,   FIRST   EARL   OF   SANDWICH. 
From  an  engraving  after  Sir  P.  Lely. 


MR.  PEPYS  AND  HIS  PATRON,  LORD  SANDWICH 

[Here  follows  the  letter.] 
My  Lord, 

I  do  verily  hope,  that  neither  the  manner  nor  matter 
of  this  advice  will  be  condemned  by  your  Lordship, 
when,  for  my  defence  in  the  first,  I  shall  alledge  my 
double  attempt,  since  your  return  from  Hinchingbroke, 
of  doing  it  personally,  in  both  of  which  your  Lordship's 
occasions,  no  doubtfulness  of  mine,  prevented  me ;  and 
that  being  now  fearful  of  a  sudden  summons  to  Ports- 
mouth, for  the  discharge  of  some  ships  there,  I  judge  it 
very  unbecoming  the  duty  which  every  bit  of  bread  I  eat 
tells  me  I  owe  to  your  Lordship  to  expose  the  safety  ot 
your  honour  to  the  safety  of  my  return.  For  the  matter, 
my  Lord,  it  is  such  as,  could  I  in  any  measure  think 
safe  to  conceal  from,  or  likely  to  be  discovered  to  you  by 
any  other  hand,  I  should  not  have  dared  so  far  to  own 
what  from  my  heart  I  believe  is  false,  as  to  make  myself 
the  relater  but  of  others'  discourse  ;  but,  sir,  your 
Lordship's  honour  being  such  as  I  ought  to  value  it  to 
be,  and  finding  both  in  city  and  court  that  discourses 
pass  to  your  prejudice,  too  generally  for  mine  or  any 
man's  controllings  but  your  Lordship's,  I  shall,  my  Lord, 
without  the  least  greatening  or  lessening  the  matter,  do 
my  duty  in  laying  it  shortly  before  you. 

People  of  all  conditions,  my  Lord,  raise  matter  of 
wonder  from  your  Lordship's  so  little  appearance  at 
Court :  some  concluding  thence  their  disfavour  thereby, 
to  which  purpose  I  have  had  questions  asked  me ;  and, 
endeavouring  to  put  off  such  insinuations  by  asserting 
the  contrary,  they  have  replied,  that  your  Lordship's 

121 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL  PEPYS 

living  so  beneath  your  quality,  out  of  the  way,  and 
declining  of  court  attendance,  hath  been  more  than  once 
discoursed  about  the  King.  Others,  my  Lord,  when 
the  chief  Ministers  of  State,  and  those  most  active  of  the 
Council  have  been  reckoned  up,  wherein  your  Lordship 
never  used  to  want  an  eminent  place,  have  said,  touching 
your  Lordship,  that  now  your  turn  was  served,  and  the 
King  had  given  you  a  good  estate,  you  left  him  to  stand 
or  fall  as  he  would,  and,  particularly  in  that  of  the 
Navy,  have  enlarged  upon  your  letting  fall  all  service 
there. 

Another  sort,  and  those  the  most,  insist  upon  the  bad 
report  of  the  house  wherein  your  Lordship,  now  observed 
in  perfect  health  again,  continues  to  sojourne,  and  by 
name  have  charged  one  of  the  daughters  for  a  common 
courtizan,  alledging  both  places  and  persons  where  and 
with  whom  she  hath  been  too  well  known,  and  how 
much  her  wantonness  occasions,  though  unjustly,  scandal 
to  your  Lordship,  and  that  as  well  to  gratifying  some 
enemies,  as  to  the  wounding  of  more  friends  I  am  not 
able  to  tell. 

Lastly,  my  Lord,  I  find  a  general  coldness  in  all 
persons  towards  your  Lordship,  such  as,  from  my  first 
dependance  on  you,  I  never  knew,  wherein  I  shall  not 
offer  to  interpose  any  thoughts  or  advice  of  mine,  well 
knowing  your  Lordship  needs  not  any.  But  with  a 
most  faithful  assurance,  that  no  person  nor  papers  under 
Heaven  is  privy  to  what  I  here  write,  besides  myself  and 
this,  which  I  shall  be  careful  to  have  put  into  your  own 
hands,  I  rest  confident  of  your  Lordship's  just  construc- 

122 


MR.  PEPYS  AND  HIS  PATRON,  LORD  SANDWICH 

tion  of  my  dutifull  intentions  herein,  and  in  all  humility 
take  my  leave.     May  it  please  your  Lordship, 

Your  Lordship's  most  obedient  Servant, 

S.  P. 

[The  foregoing  letter  was  sealed  up  and  enclosed  in 
the  following.] 

My  Lord, 

If  this  find  your  Lordship  either  riot  alone,  or  not  at 
leisure,  I  beg  the  suspending  your  opening  the  enclosed 
till  you  shall  have  both,  the  matter  very  well  bearing 
such  a  delay,  and  in  all  humility  remain,  &c. 
November  lyth,  1663.  S.  P. 

My  servant  hath  my  directions  to  put  this  into  your 
Lordship's  own  hand,  but  not  to  stay  for  any  answer. 

November  2O,  1663. 

To  my  Lord  Sandwich's  lodgings,  but  he  was  gone 
out  before,  and  so  I  am  defeated  of  my  expectation  of 
being  eased  one  way  or  other  in  the  business  of  my  Lord. 
But  I  up  to  Mr.  Howe,  who  I  saw  this  day  for  the  first 
time  in  a  periwigg,  which  becomes  him  very  well.  He 
tells  me  that  my  Lord  is  of  a  sudden  much  changed,  and 
he  do  believe  that  he  do  take  my  letter  well.  However, 
we  both  bless  God  that  it  hath  so  good  an  effect  upon 
him.  Thence  I  home  again. 

November  22,  1663. 

(Lord's  day.)  I  walked  as  far  as  the  Temple,  and 
there  took  coach,  and  to  my  Lord's  lodgings,  whom 

123 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

I  found  ready  to  go  to  Chappell ;  but  I  coming,  he 
begun,  with  a  very  serious  countenance,  to  tell  me  that 
he  had  received  my  late  letter,  wherein  first  he  took 
notice  of  my  care  of  him  and  his  honour,  and  did  give 
me  thanks  for  that  part  of  it  where  I  say  that  rrom  my 
heart  I  believe  the  contrary  of  what  I  do  there  relate  to 
be  the  discourse  of  others ;  but,  since  I  intended  it  not  a 
reproach,  but  matter  of  information,  and  for  him  to  make 
a  judgement  of  it  for  his  practice,  it  was  necessary  for 
me  to  tell  him  the  persons  of  whom  I  have  gathered  the 
several  particulars  which  I  there  insist  on.  I  would  have 
made  excuses  in  it ;  but,  seeing  him  so  earnest  in  it,  I 
found  myself  forced  to  it,  and  so  did  tell  him  Mr.  Pierce, 
the  surgeon,  in  that  of  his  Lordship's  living  being  dis- 
coursed of  at  court.  A  maid-servant  that  I  kept,  that 
lived  at  Chelsey  school,  and  also  Mr.  Pickering,  about 
the  report  touching  the  young  woman,  and  also  Mr. 
Hunt,  in  Axe  Yard,  near  whom  she  lodged.  I  told  him 
the  whole  city  do  discourse  concerning  his  neglect  of 
business ;  and  so  I  many  times  asserting  my  dutiful 
intention  in  all  this,  and  he  owning  his  accepting  or 
it  as  such.  That  that  troubled  me  most  in  particular 
is,  that  he  did  there  assert  the  civility  of  the  people 
of  the  house,  and  the  young  gentlewoman,  for  whose 
reproach  he  was  sorry.  His  saying  that  he  was  resolved 
how  to  live,  and  that  though  he  was  taking  a  house, 
meaning  to  live  in  another  manner,  yet  it  was  not  to 
please  any  people,  or  stop  report,  but  to  please  himseli, 
though  this  I  do  believe  he  might  say  that  he  might  not 
seem  to  me  to  be  so  much  wrought  upon  by  what  I  have 

124 


MR.  PEPYS  AND  HIS  PATRON,  LORD  SANDWICH 

writ ;  and  lastly,  and  most  of  all,  when  I  spoke  or  the 
tenderness  that  I  have  used  in  declaring  this  to  him,  there 
being  nobody  privy  to  it,  he  told  me  that  I  must  give 
him  leave  to  except  one.     I  told  him,  that  possibly  some- 
body might  know  of  some  thoughts  of  mine — I  having 
borrowed  some  intelligence  in  this  matter  from  them, 
but  nobody  could  say  that  they  knew  of  the  thing  itself 
what  I  writ.     This,  I  confess,  however,  do  trouble  me, 
for  that  he  seemed  to  speak  it  as  a  quick  retort,  and  it 
must  sure  be  Will.  Howe,  who  did  not  see  anything  of 
what  I  writ,  though  I   told  him  indeed  that   I  would 
write  ;  but  in  this,  methinks,  there  is  no  great  hurt.     I 
find  him,  though  he  cannot  but  own  his  opinion  of  my 
good  intention,  and  so  he  did  again  and  again  profess  it, 
that  he  is  troubled  in  his  mind  at  it ;  and  I  confess  I 
think  I  may  have  done  myself  an  injury  for  his  good, 
which,  were  it  to  do  again,  and  that  I  believed  he  would 
take  it  no  better,  I  think  I  should  sit  quietly  without 
taking  any  notice  of  it ;  for  I  doubt  there  is  no  medium 
between  his  taking  it  very  well,  or  very  ill.     I  could  not 
forbear  weeping  before  him  at  the  latter  end  ;  which, 
since,  I  am  ashamed  of,  though  I  cannot  see  what  he 
can  take  it  to  proceed  from,  but  my  tenderness  and  good 
will  to  him.     After  this  discourse  was  ended,  he  begun 
to  talk  very  cheerfully  of  other  things,  and  I  walked 
with   him   to   White    Hall,  and   we   discoursed   of  the 
pictures  in  the  gallery,  which  it  may  be  he  might  do  out 
of  policy,  that  the  boy  might  not  see  any  strangeness  in 
him;  but  I  rather  think  that  his  mind  was  somewhat 
eased,  and  hope  that  he  will  be  to  me  as  he  was  before. 

125 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

December  30,  1663. 

Up  betimes.  My  Lord  Sandwich  did  ask  me  how  his 
cozen,  my  wife,  did,  the  first  time  he  hath  done  so  since 
his  being  offended,  and  in  my  conscience  he  would  be 
glad  to  be  free  with  me  again,  but  he  knows  not  how  to 
begin. 


126 


MR.   PEPYS'S   LOVE   FOR   MUSIC 


MR.  PEPYS'S  LOVE  FOR  MUSIC 

November  21,  1660. 

At  night  to  my  viallin  (the  first  time  that  I  have 
played  on  it  since  I  come  to  this  house)  in  my  dining- 
roome,  and  afterwards  to  my  lute  there,  and  I  took  much 
pleasure  to  have  the  neighbours  come  forth  into  the  yard 
to  hear  me. 

March  27,  1661. 

To  the  Dolphin  to  a  dinner  of  Mr.  Harris's,  where 
Sir  Williams  both,  and  my  Lady  Batten,  and  her  two 
daughters,  and  other  company,  where  a  great  deal  of 
mirth,  and  there  staid  till  eleven  o'clock  at  night ;  and  in 
our  mirth  I  sang  and  sometimes  fiddled,  (there  being  a 
noise  of  fiddlers  there)  and  at  last  we  fell  to  dancing,  the 
first  time  that  ever  I  did  in  my  life,  which  I  did  wonder 
to  see  myself  do. 

July  27,  1661. 

To  Westminster,  where,  at  Mr.  Montagu's  chamber, 
I  heard  a  Frenchman  play,  a  friend  of  Monsieur  Eschar's, 
upon  the  guitar  most  extreme  well,  though  at  best 
methinks  it  is  but  a  bawble. 

127 


RED-LETTER  DAYS  OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

February  24,  1661-62. 

Long  with  Mr.  Berkenshaw  in  the  morning  at  my 
musique  practice,  finishing  my  song  of  "  Gaze  not  on 
swans,"  in  two  parts,  which  pleases  me  well,  and  I  did 
give  him  ^5  for  this  month  or  five  weeks  that  he 
hath  taught  me,  which  is  a  great  deal  of  money,  and 
troubled  me  to  part  with  it. 

May  5,  1666. 

It  being  a  very  fine  moonshine,  my  wife  and  Mercer 
come  into  the  garden,  and,  my  business  being  done,  we 
sang  till  about  twelve  at  night,  with  mighty  pleasure  to 
ourselves  and  neighbours,  by  their  casements  opening. 

July  28,  1666. 

Went  to  my  Lord  Lauderdale's  house  to  speak  with 
him,  and  find  him  and  his  lady,  and  some  Scotch  people, 
at  supper  :  pretty  odd  company,  though,  my  Lord 
Brouncker  tells  me,  my  Lord  Lauderdale  is  a  man  of 
mighty  good  reason  and  judgement.  But  at  supper 
there  played  one  of  their  servants  upon  the  viallin  some 
Scotch  tunes  only  ;  several,  and  the  best  of  their  country, 
as  they  seemed  to  esteem  them,  by  their  praising  and 
admiring  them  :  but,  Lord  !  the  strangest  ayre  that  ever 
I  heard  in  my  life,  and  all  of  one  cast.  But  strange  to 
hear  my  Lord  Lauderdale  say  himself  that  he  had  rather 
hear  a  cat  mew,  than  the  best  musique  in  the  world  ;  and 
the  better  the  musique,  the  more  sick  it  makes  him  ; 
and  that  of  all  instruments,  he  hates  the  lute  the  most, 
and,  next  to  that,  the  baggpipe. 

128 


MR.    PEPYS'S   LOVE    FOR   MUSIC 

October  6,  1666. 

This  morning  my  wife  told  me  of  a  fine  gentlewoman 
my  Lady  Pen  tells  her  of,  for  ^20  per  annum,  that 
sings,  dances,  plays  on  four  or  five  instruments,  and  many 
other  fine  things,  which  pleases  me  mightily  :  and  she 
sent  to  have  her  see  her,  which  she  did  this  afternoon,  but 
sings  basely,  and  is  a  tawdry  wench  that  would  take  ^8 — 
but  [neither]  my  wife  nor  I  think  her  fit  to  come. 

February  12,  1666—67. 

With  my  Lord  Brouncker  by  coach  to  his  house,  there 
to  hear  some  Italian  musique  :  and  here  we  met  Tom 
Killigrew,  Sir  Robert  Murray,  and  the  Italian  Signer 
Baptista, J  who  hath  proposed  a  play  in  Italian  for  the 
Opera,  which  T.  Killigrew  do  intend  to  have  up  ;  and 
here  he  did  sing  one  of  the  acts.  He  himself  is  the  poet 
as  well  as  the  musician  ;  which  is  very  much,  and  did 
sing  the  whole  from  the  words  without  any  musique 
prickt,  and  played  all  along  upon  a  harpsicon  most 
admirably,  and  the  composition  most  excellent.  The 
words  I  did  not  understand,  and  so  know  not  how  they 
are  fitted,  but  believe  very  well,  and  all  in  the  recitativo 
very  fine.  But  I  perceive  there  is  a  proper  accent  in 
every  country's  discourse,  and  that  do  reach  in  their 
setting  of  notes  to  words,  which,  therefore,  cannot  be 
natural  to  any  body  else  but  them  ;  so  that  I  am  not  so 
much  smitten  with  it  as,  it  may  be,  I  should  be,  if  I 

1  Giovanni  Baptista  Draghi,  an  Italian  musician  in  the  service  of 
Queen  Catherine,  and  a  composer  of  merit. — Hawkins's  History  of 
Music. 

129  K 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

were  acquainted  with  their  accent.  But  the  whole 
composition  is  certainly  most  excellent  ;  and  the 
poetry,  T.  Killigrew  and  Sir  R.  Murray,  who  under- 
stood the  words,  did  say  most  excellent.  I  confess  I 
was  mightily  pleased  with  the  musique.  He  pretends 
not  to  voice,  though  it  be  good,  but  not  excellent.  This 
done,  T.  Killigrew  and  I  to  talk  :  and  he  tells  me  how 
the  audience  at  his  house  is  not  above  half  so  much  as 
it  used  to  be  before  the  late  fire.  That  Knipp  is  like  to 
make  the  best  actor  that  ever  come  upon  the  stage,  she 
understanding  so  well  :  that  they  are  going  to  give  her 
^30  a-year  more.  That  the  stage  is  now  by  his  pains  a 
thousand  times  better  and  more  glorious  than  ever  here- 
tofore. Now,  wax-candles,  and  many  of  them  ;  then, 
not  above  3lbs.  of  tallow  :  now,  all  things  civil,  no 
rudeness  anywhere  ;  then,  as  in  a  bear-garden  :  then, 
two  or  three  fiddlers ;  now,  nine  or  ten  of  the  best :  then, 
nothing  but  rushes  upon  the  ground,  and  every  thing 
else  mean  ;  now  all  otherwise  :  then,  the  Queen  seldom 
and  the  King  never  would  come  ;  now,  not  the  King 
only  for  the  state,  but  all  civil  people  do  think  they  may 
come  as  well  as  any.  He  tells  me  that  he  hath  gone 
several  times,  eight  or  ten  times,  he  tells  me,  hence  to 
Rome,  to  hear  good  musique  ;  so  much  he  loves  it, 
though  he  never  did  sing  or  play  a  note.  That  he  hath 
ever  endeavoured  in  the  late  King's  time,  and  in  this,  to 
introduce  good  musique,  but  he  never  could  do  it,  there 
never  having  been  any  musique  here  better  than  ballads. 
And  says,  "  Hermitt  poore  "  and  "  Chiny  Chese  "  l  was 

1  Chevy  Chase. 
130 


MR.   PEPYS'S    LOVE   FOR  MUSIC 

all  the  musique  we  had  ;  and  yet  no  ordinary  fiddlers 
get  so  much  money  as  our's  do  here,  which  speaks  our 
rudenesse  still.  That  he  hath  gathered  our  Italians  from 
several  Courts  in  Christendome,  to  come  to  make  a 
concert  for  the  King,  which  he  do  give  ^200  a-year 
a-piece  to  :  but  badly  paid,  and  do  come  in  the  room  of 
keeping  four  ridiculous  gundilows,1  he  having  got  the 
King  to  put  them  away,  and  lay  out  money  this  way  ; 
and  indeed  I  do  commend  him  for  it,  for  I  think  it  is 
a  very  noble  undertaking.  He  do  intend  to  have  some 
times  of  the  year  these  operas  to  be  performed  at  the 
two  present  theatres,  since  he  is  defeated  in  what  he 
intended  in  Moorefields  on  purpose  for  it  ;  and  he  tells 
me  plainly  that  the  City  audience  was  as  good  as  the 
Court,  but  now  they  are  most  gone.  Baptista  tells  me 
that  Giacomo  Charissimi  is  still  alive  at  Rome,  who  was 
master  to  Vinnecotio,  who  is  one  of  the  Italians  that  the 
King  hath  here,  and  the  chief  composer  of  them.  My 
great  wonder  is,  how  this  man  do  to  keep  in  memory  so 
perfectly  the  musique  of  the  whole  act,  both  for  the 
voice  and  the  instrument  too.  I  confess  I  do  admire  it  : 
but  in  recitative  the  sense  much  helps  him,  for  there  is 
but  one  proper  way  of  discoursing  and  giving  the  accents. 
Having  done  our  discourse,  we  all  took  coaches,  my 
Lord's  and  T.  Killigrew's,  and  to  Mrs.  Knipp's  chamber, 
where  this  Italian  is  to  teach  her  to  sing  her  part.  And 
so  we  all  thither,  and  there  she  did  sing  an  Italian  song 
or  two  very  fine,  while  he  played  the  bass  upon  a 
harpsicon  there  ;  and  exceedingly  taken  I  am  with  her 

1  Gondolas. 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

singing,  and  believe  that  she  will  do  miracles  at  that  and 
acting.     Her  little  girl  is  mighty  pretty  and  witty. 

March   12,  1667. 

Up  and  to  the  Office,  where  all  the  morning.  At 
noon  home,  and  there  find  Mr.  Goodgroome,  whose 
teaching  of  my  wife  only  by  singing  over  and  over  again 
to  her,  and  letting  her  sing  with  him,  not  by  herself,  to 
correct  her  faults,  I  do  not  like  at  all,  but  was  angry  at 
it ;  but  have  this  content,  that  I  do  think  she  will  come 
to  sing  pretty  well,  and  to  trill  in  time,  which  pleases 
me  well. 

September  8,  1667. 

I  went  to  the  King's  Chapel  to  the  closet,  and  there  I 
heard  Cresset  sing  a  tenor  part  along  with  the  Church 
musick  very  handsomely,  but  so  loud  that  people  did  laugh 
at  him,  as  a  thing  done  for  ostentation. 

October  I,  1667. 

To  White  Hall ;  and  there  in  the  Boarded  Gallery  did 
hear  the  musick  with  which  the  King  is  presented  this 
night  by  Monsieur  Grebus,1  the  master  of  his  musick  ; 
both  instrumentall — I  think  twenty  four  violins — and 
vocall ;  an  English  song  upon  Peace.  But,  God  forgive 
me  !  I  never  was  so  little  pleased  with  a  concert  of 

1  Louis  Grabut  or  Grabu,  a  French  composer,  and  Master  of  the  King's 
band,  whom  Charles  had  the  bad  taste  to  prefer  to  Purcell.  In  1685, 
Dryden's  opera  of  Albion  and  Albanius  was  set  to  music  by  Grabut  ;  but 
the  piece  did  not  succeed,  and  the  favourers  of  the  English  school  triumphed 
in  its  downfall. — Dryden's  fforkt,  vol.  vii.  p.  212. 

132 


MR.    PEPYS'S   LOVE   FOR   MUSIC 

musick  in  my  life.  The  manner  of  setting  of  words  and 
repeating  them  out  of  order,  and  that  with  a  number  of 
voices,  makes  me  sick,  the  whole  design  of  vocall  musick 
being  lost  by  it.  Here  was  a  great  press  of  people  ;  but 
I  did  not  see  many  pleased  with  it,  only  the  instrumental 
musick  he  had  brought  by  practice  to  play  very  just. 

^January  2O,  1667-68. 

To  Drumbleby's,  the  pipe-maker,  there  to  advise  about 
the  making  of  a  flageolet  to  go  low  and  soft ;  and  he  do 
show  me  a  way  which  do  do,  and  also  a  fashion  of  having 
two  pipes  of  the  same  note  fastened  together,  so  as  I  can 
play  on  one,  and  then  echo  it  upon  the  other,  which  is 
mighty  pretty. 

February  27,  1667-68. 

With  my  wife  to  the  King's  House,  to  see  "  The 
Virgin  Martyr,"  the  first  time  it  hath  been  acted  a  great 
while :  and  it  is  mighty  pleasant  ;  not  that  the  play  is 
worth  much,  but  it  is  finely  acted  by  Beck  Marshall. 
But  that  which  did  please  me  beyond  any  thing  in  the 
whole  world  was  the  wind-musick  when  the  angel 
comes  down,  which  is  so  sweet  that  it  ravished  me,  and 
indeed,  in  a  word,  did  wrap  up  my  soul  so  that  it  made 
me  really  sick,  just  as  I  have  formerly  been  when  in  love 
with  my  wife  ;  that  neither  then,  nor  all  the  evening 
going  home,  and  at  home,  I  was  able  to  think  of  any 
thing,  but  remained  all  night  transported,  so  as  I  could 
not  believe  that  ever  any  musick  hath  that  real  command 
over  the  soul  of  a  man  as  this  did  upon  me  :  and  makes 

133 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

me  resolve  to  practice  wind-musick,  and  to  make  my  wife 
do  the  like. 

January  n,  1668-69. 

Home  ;  and  there  all  the  evening ;  and  made  Tom  to 
prick  down  some  little  conceits  and  notions  of  mine,  in 
musick,  which  do  mightily  encourage  me  to  spend  some 
more  thoughts  about  it ;  for  I  fancy,  upon  good  reason, 
that  I  am  in  the  right  way  of  unfolding  the  mystery  of 
this  matter,  better  than  ever  yet. 


134 


MR.    PEPYS    THE    OBSERVER 


MR.    PEPYS   THE  OBSERVER 

October  13,  1660. 

I  went  out  to  Charing  Cross,  to  see  Major-General 
Harrison *  hanged,  drawn,  and  quartered  ;  which  was 
done  there,  he  looking  as  cheerful  as  any  man  could  do 
in  that  condition.  He  was  presently  cut  down,  and  his 
head  and  heart  shown  to  the  people,  at  which  there  was 
great  shouts  of  joy.  It  is  said,  that  he  said  that  he  was 
sure  to  come  shortly  at  the  right  hand  of  Christ  to  judge 
them  that  now  had  judged  him  ;  and  that  his  wife  do 
expect  his  coming  again.  Thus  it  was  my  chance  to  see 
the  King  beheaded  at  White  Hall,  and  to  see  the  first 
blood  shed  in  revenge  for  the  King  at  Charing  Cross. 

June  14,  1662. 

Up  by  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  upon  business 
at  my  office.  Then  we  sat  down  to  business,  and  about 
1 1  o'clock,  having  a  room  got  ready  for  us,  we  all  went 
out  to  the  Tower-hill  ;  and  there,  over  against  the  scaf- 

1  Thomas  Harrison,  appointed  by  Cromwell  to  convey  Charles  I.  from 
Windsor  to  White  Hall,  in  order  to  his  trial,  and  afterwards  sat  as  one  of 
his  judges. 

135 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

fold,  made  on  purpose  this  day,  saw  Sir  Henry  Vane 
brought.  A  very  great  press  of  people.  He  made  a  long 
speech,  many  times  interrupted  by  the  Sheriffe  and  others 
there ;  and  they  would  have  taken  his  paper  out  of  his 
hand,  but  he  would  not  let  it  go.  But  they  caused  all 
the  books  of  those  that  writ  after  him  [/'.*.,  the  reporters] 
to  be  given  the  Sheriffe  ;  and  the  trumpets  were  brought 
under  the  scaffold  that  he  might  not  be  heard.  ,  Then  he 
prayed,  and  so  fitted  himself,  and  received  the  blow  ;  but 
the  scaffold  was  so  crowded  that  we  could  not  see  it  done. 
But  Boreman,  who  had  been  upon  the  scaffold,  told  us, 
that  first  he  began  to  speak  of  the  irregular  proceeding 
against  him  ;  that  he  was,  against  Magna  Charta,  denied 
to  have  his  exceptions  against  the  indictment  allowed  j 
and  that  there  he  was  stopped  by  the  Sheriffe.  Then  he 
drew  out  his  paper  of  notes,  and  begun  to  tell  them  first 
his  life  ;  that  he  was  born  a  gentleman  ;  he  had  been, 
till  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  a  good  fellow,  but  then  it 
pleased  God  to  lay  a  foundation  of  grace  in  his  heart,  by 
which  he  was  persuaded,  against  his  worldly  interest, 
to  leave  all  preferment  and  go  abroad,  where  he  might 
serve  God  with  more  freedom.  Then  he  was  called 
home,  and  made  a  member  of  the  Long  Parliament ; 
where  he  never  did,  to  this  day,  any  thing  against  his 
conscience,  but  all  for  the  glory  of  God.  Here  he  would 
have  given  them  an  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
Long  Parliament,  but  they  so  often  interrupted  him,  that 
at  last  he  was  forced  to  give  over  :  and  so  fell  into  prayer 
for  England  in  generall,  then  for  the  churches  in  England, 
and  then  for  the  City  of  London  :  and  so  fitted  himself 

136 


MR.    PEPYS   THE    OBSERVER 


for  the  block,  and  received  the  blow.  He  had  a  blister, 
or  issue,  upon  his  neck,  which  he  desired  them  not  to 
hurt :  he  changed  not  his  colour  or  speech  to  the  last,  but 
died  justifying  himself  and  the  cause  he  had  stood  for  ; 
and  spoke  very  confidently  of  his  being  presently  at  the 
right  hand  of  Christ ;  and  in  all  things  appeared  the  most 
resolved  man  that  ever  died  in  that  manner,  and  showed 
more  of  heate  than  cowardice,  but  yet  with  all  humility 
and  gravity.  One  asked  him  why  he  did  not  pray  for 
the  King.  He  answered,  u  You  shall  see  I  can  pray  for 
the  King  :  I  pray  God  bless  him  !  "  The  King  had  given 
his  body  to  his  friends  ;  and,  therefore,  he  told  them  that 
he  hoped  they  would  be  civil  to  his  body  when  dead  ;  and 
desired  they  would  let  him  die  like  a  gentleman  and  a 
Christian,  and  not  crowded  and  pressed  as  he  was. 

September  3,  1662. 

After  dinner,  we  met  and  sold  the  Weymouth, 
Successe,  and  Fellowship  hulkes,  where  pleasant  to  see 
how  backward  men  are  at  first  to  bid  ;  and  yet,  when 
the  candle  is  going  out,  how  they  bawl,  and  dispute 
afterwards  who  bid  the  most  first.  And  here  I  ob- 
served one  man  cunninger  than  the  rest,  that  was 
sure  to  bid  the  last  man,  and  to  carry  it ;  and,  inquiring  the 
reason,  he  told  me  that,  just  as  the  flame  goes  out,  the 
smoke  descends,  which  is  a  thing  I  never  observed  before, 
and  by  that  he  do  know  the  instant  when  to  bid  last. 

December  I,  1662. 

To  my  Lord  Sandwich's,  to  Mr.  Moore  ;  and  then 
'37 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

over  the  Parke,  where  I  first  in  my  life,  it  being  a 
great  frost,  did  see  people  sliding  with  their  skeates, 
which  is  a  very  pretty  art. 

December  15,  1662. 

To  the  Duke,  and  followed  him  into  the  Park, 
where  though  the  ice  was  broken  and  dangerous,  yet 
he  would  go  slide  upon  his  scates,  which  I  did  not 
like,  but  he  slides  very  well. 

December  28,  1663. 

Walking  through  White  Hall,  I  heard  the  King 
was  gone  to  play  at  Tennis,  so  I  down  to  the  New 
Tennis  Court  and  saw  him  and  Sir  Arthur  Slingsby 
play  against  my  Lord  of  Suffolke  and  my  Lord 
Chesterfield.  The  King  beat  three,  and  lost  two  sets, 
they  all,  and  he  particularly,  playing  well,  I  thought. 

July  2O,  1664. 

To  White  Hall,  to  the  Committee  for  Fishing ;  but 
nothing  done,  it  being  a  great  day  to-day  there  upon 
drawing  at  the  Lottery  of  Sir  Arthur  Slingsby.  I  got 
in,  and  stood  by  the  two  Queens  and  the  Duchess  of 
York,  and  just  behind  my  Lady  Castlemaine,  whom  I 
do  heartily  admire  ;  and  good  sport  to  see  how  most 
that  did  give  their  ten  pounds  did  go  away  with  a 
pair  of  gloves  only  for  their  lot,  and  one  gentlewoman, 
one  Mrs.  Fish,  with  the  only  blanke.  And  one  I 
staid  to  see  draw  a  suit  of  hangings  valued  at  ^430, 
and  they  say  are  well  worth  the  money,  or  near  it.  One 

138 


MR.    PEPYS    THE    OBSERVER 


other  suit  there  is  better  than  that ;  but  very  many  lots 
of  three  and  fourscore  pounds.  I  observed  the  King  and 
Queen  did  get  but  as  poor  lots  as  any  else.  But  the 
wisest  man  I  met  with  was  Mr.  Cholmley,  who  insured 
as  many  as  would,  from  drawing  of  the  one  blank  for 
I2d. ;  in  which  case  there  was  the  whole  number  of 
persons  to  one,  which,  I  think,  was  three  or  four  hundred. 
And  so  he  insured  about  200  for  200  shillings,  so  that  he 
could  not  have  lost  if  one  of  them  had  drawn  it  ;  for 
there  was  enough  to  pay  the  ^10,  but  it  happened 
another  drew  it,  and  so  he  got  all  the  money  he  took. 

August  7,  1664. 

I  saw  several  poor  creatures  carried  by,  by  constables, 
for  being  at  a  conventicle.  They  go  like  lambs,  without 
any  resistance.  I  wdfcld  to  God  they  would  either  con- 
form, or  be  more  wise,  and  not  be  catched  ! 

December  25,  1665. 

(Christmas  day.)  To  church  in  the  morning,  and 
there  saw  a  wedding  in  the  church,  which  I  have  not 
seen  many  a  day  ;  and  the  young  people  so  merry  one 
with  another  !  and  strange  to  see  what  delight  we  married 
people  have  to  see  these  poor  fools  decoyed  into  our  con- 
dition, every  man  and  woman  gazing  and  smiling  at  them. 

June  25,  1666. 

Mrs.  Pen  carried  us  to  two  gardens  at  Hackny,  which 
I  every  day  grow  more  and  more  in  love  with,  Mr. 
Drake's,  one,  where  the  garden  is  good,  and  house  and 

139 


RED-LETTER    DAYS    OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

the  prospect  admirable ;  the  other  my  Lord  Brooke's, 
where  the  gardens  are  much  better,  but  the  house  not  so 
good,  nor  the  prospect  good  at  all.  But  the  gardens  are 
excellent ;  and  here  I  first  saw  oranges  grow  :  some 
green,  some  half,  some  a  quarter,  and  some  full  ripe,  on 
the  same  tree  ;  and  one  fruit  of  the  same  tree  do  come  a 
year  or  two  after  the  other.  I  pulled  off  a  little  one  by 
stealth,  the  man  being  mightily  curious  of  them,  and  eat 
it,  and  it  was  just  as  other  little  green  small  oranges  are  ; 
as  big  as  half  the  end  of  my  little  finger.  Here  were 
also  great  variety  of  other  exotique  plants,  and  several 
labyrinths,  and  a  pretty  aviary.  This  being  the  first  day 
of  my  putting  on  my  black  stuff  bombazin  suit. 

January  23,  1666-67. 

To  St.  James's,  to  see  the  organ  Mrs.  Turner  told 
me  of  the  other  night,  of  my  late  Lord  Aubigney's ; 
and  I  took  my  Lord  Brouncker  with  me,  he  being 
acquainted  with  my  present  Lord  Almoner,  Mr.  Howard, 
brother  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolke  ;  so  he  and  I  did  see 
the  organ,  but  I  do  not  like  it,  it  being  but  a  bauble, 
with  a  virginal  joining  to  it  :  so  I  shall  not  meddle  with 
it.  The  Almoner  seems  a  good-natured  gentleman : 
here  I  observed  the  deske  which  he  hath,  [made]  to 
remove,  and  is  fastened  to  one  of  the  armes  of  his  chayre. 
I  do  also  observe  the  counterfeit  windows  there  was,  in 
the  form  of  doors  with  looking-glasses  instead  or 
windows,  which  makes  the  room  seem  both  bigger  and 
lighter,  I  think  ;  and  I  have  some  thoughts  to  have  the 
like  in  one  of  my  rooms.  He  discoursed  much  of  the 

140 


MR.    PEPYS  THE   OBSERVER 


goodness  of  the  musique  in  Rome,  but  could  not  tell  me 
how  long  musique  had  been  in  any  perfection  in  that 
church,  which  I  would  be  glad  to  know.  He  speaks 
much  of  the  great  buildings  that  this  Pope  [Alex- 
ander VII.],  whom,  in  mirth  to  us,  he  calls  Antichrist, 
hath  done  in^  his  time.  Away,  and  my  Lord  and  I 
walking  into  the  Park,  I  did  observe  the  new  buildings  : 
and  my  Lord,  seeing  I  had  a  desire  to  see  them,  they 
being  the  place  for  the  priests  and  fryers,  he  took  me 
back  to  my  Lord  Almoner ;  and  he  took  us  quite 
through  the  whole  house  and  chapel,  and  the  new 
monastery,  showing  me  most  excellent  pieces  in  wax- 
worke  :  a  crucifix  given  by  a  Pope  to  Mary  Queen  of 
Scotts,  where  a  piece  of  the  Cross  is  ;  *  two  bits  set  in 
the  manner  of  a  cross  in  the  foot  of  the  crucifix  :  several 

1  Pieces  of  "  the  Cross  "  were  formerly  held  in  such  veneration,  and  were 
so  common,  that  it  has  been  often  said  enough  existed  to  build  a  ship. 
Most  readers  will  remember  the  distinction  which  Sir  W.  Scott  represents 
Louis  XI.  (with  great  appreciation  of  that  monarch's  character)  as  drawing 
between  an  oath  taken  on  a  false  piece  and  one  taken  on  a  piece  of  the  true 
Cross.  Sir  Thomas  More,  a  very  devout  believer  in  relics,  says  (Workt, 
p.  119)  that,  "Luther  wished  in  a  sermon  of  his,  that  he  had  in  his  hand 
all  the  pieces  of  the  Holy  Cross  ;  and  said  that  if  he  so  had,  he  would 
throw  them  there  as  never  sun  should  shine  on  them  ; — and  for  what 
worshipful  reason  would  the  wretch  do  such  villany  to  the  cross  of  Christ  ? 
Because,  as  he  saith,  that  there  is  so  much  gold  now  bestowed  about  the 
garnishing  of  the  pieces  of  the  Cross,  that  there  is  none  left  for  poore  folke. 
Is  not  this  a  high  reason  ?  As  though  all  the  gold  that  is  now  bestowed 
about  the  pieces  of  the  Holy  Cross  would  not  have  failed  to  have  been  given 
to  poor  men,  if  they  had  not  been  bestowed  about  the  garnishing  of  the 
Cross  !  and  as  though  there  were  nothing  lost,  but  what  is  bestowed  about 
Christ's  Cross  ! "  Wolsey,  says  Cavendish,  on  his  fall,  gave  to  Norris,  who 
brought  him  a  ring  of  gold  as  a  token  of  good  will  from  Henry,  "  a  little 
chaine  of  gold,  made  like  a  bottle  chain,  with  a  cross  of  gold,  wherein  was 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

fine  pictures,  but  especially  very  good  prints  of  holy 
pictures.  I  saw  the  dortoire  x  and  the  cells  or  the  priests, 
and  we  went  into  one ;  a  very  pretty  little  room,  very 
clean,  hung  with  pictures,  set  with  books.  The  Priest 
was  in  his  cell,  with  his  hair  clothes  to  his  skin,  bare- 
legged, with  a  sandall  only  on,  and  his  little  bed  without 
sheets,  and  no  feather-bed  ;  but  yet,  I  thought,  soft 
enough.  His  cord  about  his  middle ;  but  in  so  good 
company,  living  with  ease,  I  thought  it  a  very  good  life. 
A  pretty  library  they  have.  And  I  was  in  the  refectoire, 
where  every  man  his  napkin,  knife,  cup  of  earth,  and 
basin  of  the  same ;  and  a  place  for  one  to  sit  and  read 
while  the  rest  are  at  meals.  And  into  the  kitchen  I 
went,  where  a  good  neck  of  mutton  at  the  fire,  and 
other  victuals  boiling.  I  do  not  think  they  fared  very 
hard.  Their  windows  all  looking  into  a  fine  garden  and 
the  Park  ;  and  mighty  pretty  rooms  all.  I  wished  my- 
self one  of  the  Capuchins.  So  away  with  the  Almoner 
in  his  coach,  talking  merrily  about  the  difference  in  our 
religions,  to  White  Hall,  and  there  we  left  him. 

January  27,  1666-67. 

Walked  to  White  Hall,  and  there  I  showed  my  cozen 

a  piece  of  the  Holy  Cross,  which  he  continually  wore  about  his  neck,  next 
his  body  ;  and  said,  furthermore,  '  Master  Norris,  I  assure  you,  when  I  was 
in  prosperity,  although  it  seem  but  small  in  value,  yet  I  would  not  gladly 
have  departed  with  the  same  for  a  thousand  pounds.'" — Life,  ed.  1852, 
p.  167.  Evelyn  mentions,  Diary,  I7th  Nov.,  1664,  that  he  saw  in  one  of  the 
chapels  in  St.  Peter's  a  crucifix  with  a  piece  of  the  true  cross  in  it.  Among 
the  jewels  of  Mary  Queen  of  Scots  was  a  cross  of  gold,  which  had  been 
pledged  to  Hume  of  Blackadder  for  £1,000. — Chalmer's  Life,  vol.  i.  p. 31. 
*  Dormitory. 

142 


MR.    PEPYS  THE   OBSERVER 


Roger  the  Duchess  of  York  sitting  in  state,  while 
her  own  mother  stands  by  her ;  and  my  Lady  Castle- 
maine,  whom  he  approves  to  be  very  handsome,  and 
wonders  that  she  cannot  be  as  good  within  as  she  is  fair 
without.  Her  little  black  boy  come  by  him  ;  and,  a 
dog  being  in  his  way,  the  little  boy  swore  at  the  dog : 
"  How,"  says  he,  blessing  himself,  "  would  I  whip  this 
child  till  the  blood  come,  if  it  were  my  child ! "  and  I 
believe  he  would. 

February  17,  1666-67. 

This  evening,  going  to  the  Queen's  side  to  see  the 
ladies,  I  did  find  the  Queen,  the  Duchess  of  York,  and 
another  or  two,  at  cards,  with  the  room  full  of  great 
ladies  and  men  ;  which  I  was  amazed  at  to  see  on  a 
Sunday,  having  not  believed  it ;  but,  contrarily,  flatly 
denied  the  same  a  little  while  since  to  my  cozen  Roger 
Pepys. 

May  10,  1667. 

At  noon  to  Kent's,  at  the  Three  Tuns'  Tavern  :  and 
there  the  constable  of  the  parish  did  show  us  the  pick- 
locks and  dice  that  were  found  in  the  dead  man's  pocket, 
and  but  i8d.  in  money  ;  and  a  table-book,  wherein  were 
entered  the  names  of  several  places  where  he  was  to  go  ; 
and  among  others  Kent's  house,  where  he  was  to  dine, 
and  did  dine  yesterday  ;  and  after  dinner  went  into  the 
church,  and  there  saw  his  corpse  with  the  wound  in  his 
left  breast  j  a  sad  spectacle,  and  a  broad  wound,  which 
makes  my  hand  now  shake  to  write  of  it.  His  brother 

143 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

intending,  it  seems,  to  kill  the  coachman,  who  did  not 
please  him,  this  fellow  stepped  in,  and  took  away  his 
sword  ;  who  thereupon  took  out  his  knife,  which  was  of 
the  fashion,  with  a  falchion  blade,  and  a  little  cross  at 
the  hilt  like  a  dagger;  and  with  that  stabbed  him. 
Drove  hard  towards  Clerkenwell,  thinking  to  have  over- 
taken my  Lady  Newcastle,  whom  I  saw  before  us  in  her 
coach,  with  IOO  boys  and  girls  running  looking  upon 
her  :  but  I  could  not :  and  so  she  got  home  before  I 
could  come  up  to  her.  But  I  will  get  a  time  to  see  her. 

May  28,  1667. 

I  by  water  to  Fox-hall,  and  there  walked  in  Spring 
Garden.  A  great  deal  of  company,  and  the  weather  and 
garden  pleasant :  and  it  is  very  pleasant  and  cheap  going 
thither,  for  a  man  may  go  to  spend  what  he  will,  or 
nothing,  all  is  one.  But  to  hear  the  nightingale  and 
other  birds,  and  hear  fiddles,  and  there  a  harp,  and  here 
a  Jew's  trump,  and  here  laughing,  and  there  fine  people 
walking,  is  mighty  divertising.  Among  others,  there 
were  two  pretty  women  alone,  that  walked  a  great  while, 
which  being  discovered  by  some  idle  gentlemen,  they 
would  needs  take  them  up  :  but  to  see  the  poor  ladies 
how  they  were  put  to  it  to  run  from  them,  and  they  after 
them,  and  sometimes  the  ladies  put  themselves  along  with 
other  company,  then  the  other  drew  back  ;  at  last,  the 
last  did  get  off  out  of  the  house,  and  took  boat  and  away. 
I  was  troubled  to  see  them  abused  so  ;  and  could  have 
found  in  my  heart,  as  little  desire  of  fighting  as  I  have, 
to  have  protected  the  ladies. 

144 


MR.    PEPYS  THE    OBSERVER 


July  14,  1667. 

(Lord's  day.)  Up,  and  my  wife,  a  little  before  four, 
and  to  make  us  ready  ;  and  by  and  by  Mrs.  Turner  come 
to  us,  by  agreement,  and  she  and  I  staid  talking  below, 
while  my  wife  dressed  herself,  which  vexed  me  that  she  was 
so  long  about  it,  keeping  us  till  past  five  o'clock  before  she 
was  ready.  She  ready  ;  and,  taking  some  bottles  of  wine, 
and  beer,  and  some  cold  fowle  with  us  into  the  coach,  we 
took  coach  and  four  horses,  which  I  had  provided  last 
night,  and  so  away.  A  very  fine  day,  and  so  towards 
Epsom,  talking  all  the  way  pleasantly,  and  particularly  of 
the  pride  and  ignorance  of  Mrs.  Lowther,  in  having  of 
her  train  carried  up.  The  country  very  fine,  only  the 
way  very  dusty.  To  Epsom,  by  eight  o'clock,  to  the 
well  ;  where  much  company,  and  I  drank  the  water : 
they  did  not,  but  I  did  drink  four  pints.  And  to  the 
towne,  to  the  King's  Head ;  and  hear  that  my  Lord 
Buckhurst  and  Nelly  are  lodged  at  the  next  house,  and 
Sir  Charles  Sedley  with  them  :  and  keep  a  merry  house. 
Poor  girl !  I  pity  her  ;  but  more  the  loss  of  her  at  the 
King's  house.  W.  Hewer  rode  with  us,  and  I  left  him 
and  the  women,  and  myself  walked  to  church,  where  few 
people  to  what  I  expected,  and  none  I  knew,  but  all  the 
Houblons,  brothers,  and  them  after  sermon  I  did  salute, 
and  walk  with  towards  my  inne.  James  did  tell  me  that 
I  was  the  only  happy  man  of  the  Navy,  of  whom,  he 
says,  during  all  this  freedom  the  people  have  taken  to 
speaking  treason,  he  hath  not  heard  one  bad  word  of  me, 
which  is  a  great  joy  to  me  ;  for  I  hear  the  same  of 
others,  but  do  know  that  I  have  deserved  as  well  as,  most. 

145  L 


RED-LETTER  DAYS    OF    SAMUEL  PEPYS 

We  parted  to  meet  anon,  and  I  to  my  women  into  a 
better  room,  which  the  people  of  the  house  borrowed 
for  us,  and  there  to  a  good  dinner,  and  were  merry,  and 
Pembleton  come  to  us,  who  happened  to  be  in  the  house, 
and  there  talked  and  were  merry.  After  dinner,  he 
gone,  we  all  lay  down,  the  day  being  wonderful  hot,  to 
sleep,  and  each  of  us  took  a  good  nap,  and  then  rose ; 
and  here  Tom  Wilson  come  to  see  me,  and  sat  and 
talked  an  hour  ;  and  I  perceive  he  hath  been  much 
acquainted  with  Dr.  Fuller,  (Tom)  and  Dr.  Pierson,  and 
several  of  the  great  cavalier  parsons  during  the  late 
troubles ;  and  I  was  glad  to  hear  him  talk  of  them, 
which  he  did  very  ingenuously,  and  very  much  of  Dr. 
Fuller's  art  of  memory,  which  he  did  tell  me  several 
instances  of.  By  and  by  he  parted,  and  we  took  coach 
and  to  take  the  ayre,  there  being  a  fine  breeze  abroad  ; 
and  I  carried  them  to  the  well,  and  there  filled  some 
bottles  of  water  to  carry  home  with  me  ;  and  there  I 
talked  with  the  two  women  that  farm  the  well,  at  £12 
per  annum,  of  the  lord  of  the  manor.  Mr.  Evelyn  with 
his  lady,  and  also  my  Lord  George  Barkeley's  lady,  and 
their  fine  daughter,  that  the  King  of  France  liked  so 
well,  and  did  dance  so  rich  in  Jewells  before  the  King  at 
the  ball  I  was  at,  at  our  Court,  last  winter,  and  also  their 
son,  a  Knight  of  the  Bath,  were  at  church  this  morning. 
Here  W.  Hewer's  horse  broke  loose,  and  we  had  the 
sport  to  see  him  taken  again.  Then  I  carried  them  to 
see  my  cozen  Pepys's  house,  and  'light,  and  walked 
round  about  it,  and  they  like  it,  as  indeed  it  deserves, 
very  well,  and  is  a  pretty  place  ;  and  then  I  walked  them 

146 


MR.   PEPYS   THE   OBSERVER 


to  the  wood  hard  by,  and  there  got  them  in  the  thickets 
till  they  had  lost  themselves,  and  I  could  not  find  the 
way  into  any  of  the  walks  in  the  wood,  which  indeed  are 
very  pleasant,  if  I  could  have  found  them.  At  last  got 
out  of  the  wood  again  j  and  I,  by  leaping  down  the  little 
bank,  coming  out  of  the  wood,  did  sprain  my  right  foot, 
which  brought  me  great  present  pain,  but  presently,  with 
walking,  it  went  away  for  the  present,  and  so  the 
women  and  W.  Hewer  and  I  walked  upon  the  Downes, 
where  a  flock  of  sheep  was  ;  and  the  most  pleasant  and 
innocent  sight  that  ever  I  saw  in  my  life.  We  found  a 
shepherd  and  his  little  boy  reading,  far  from  any  houses 
or  sight  of  people,  the  Bible  to  him  ;  so  I  made  the  boy 
read  to  me,  which  he  did,  with  the  forced  tone  that 
children  do  usually  read,  that  was  mighty  pretty,  and 
then  I  did  give  him  something,  and  went  to  the  father, 
and  talked  with  him  ;  and  I  find  he  had  been  a  servant 
in  my  cozen  Pepys's  house,  and  told  me  what  was  become 
of  their  old  servants.  He  did  content  himself  mightily 
in  my  liking  his  boy's  reading,  and  did  bless  God  for  him, 
the  most  like  one  of  the  old  patriarchs  that  ever  I  saw  in 
my  life,  and  it  brought  those  thoughts  of  the  old  age  of 
the  world  in  my  mind  for  two  or  three  days  after.  We 
took  notice  of  his  woolen  knit  stockings  of  two  colours 
mixed,  and  of  his  shoes  shod  with  iron,  both  at  the  toe 
and  heels,  and  with  great  nails  in  the  soles  of  his  feet, 
which  was  mighty  pretty  :  and,  taking  notice  of  them, 
why,  says  the  poor  man,  the  downes,  you  see,  are  full  of 
stones,  and  we  are  faine  to  shoe  ourselves  thus  ;  and 
these,  says  he,  will  make  the  stones  fly  till  they  ring 

H7 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

before  me.  I  did  give  the  poor  man  something,  for 
which  he  was  mighty  thankful,  and  I  tried  to  cast  stones 
with  his  home  crooke.  He  values  his  dog  mightily,  that 
would  turn  a  sheep  any  way  which  he  would  have  him, 
when  he  goes  to  fold  them  :  told  me  there  was  about 
eighteen  score  sheep  in  his  flock,  and  that  he  hath  four 
shillings  a  week  the  year  round  for  keeping  of  them  : 
and  Mrs.  Turner,  in  the  common  fields  here,  did  gather 
one  of  the  prettiest  nosegays  that  ever  I  saw  in  my  life. 
So  to  our  coach,  and  through  Mr.  Minnes's  wood,  and 
looked  upon  Mr.  Evelyn's  house ;  and  so  over  the 
common,  and  through  Epsom  towne  to  our  inne,  in  the 
way  stopping  a  poor  woman  with  her  milk-pail,  and  in 
one  of  my  gilt  tumblers,  did  drink  our  bellyfulls  of  milk, 
better  than  any  creame  ;  and  so  to  our  inne,  and  there 
had  a  dish  of  creame,  but  it  was  sour,  and  so  had  no 
pleasure  in  it  ;  and  so  paid  our  reckoning,  and  took 
coach,  it  being  about  seven  at  night,  and  passed  and  saw 
the  people  walking  with  their  wives  and  children  to  take 
the  ayre,  and  we  set  out  for  home,  the  sun  by  and  by 
going  down,  and  we  in  the  cool  of  the  evening  all  the 
way  with  much  pleasure  home,  talking  and  pleasing  our- 
selves with  the  pleasures  of  this  day's  work.  Mrs. 
Turner  mightily  pleased  with  my  resolution,  which,  I 
tell  her,  is  never  to  keep  a  country-house,  but  to  keep  a 
coach,  and  with  my  wife  on  the  Saturday  to  go  some- 
times for  a  day  to  this  place,  and  then  quit  to  another 
place  ;  and  there  is  more  variety  and  as  little  charge,  and 
no  trouble,  as  there  is  in  a  country-house.  Anon  it  grew 
dark,  and  we  had  the  pleasure  to  see  several  glow- 

148 


MR.   PEPYS  THE   OBSERVER 


wormes,  which  was  mighty  pretty,  but  my  foot  begins 
more  and  more  to  pain  me,  which  Mrs.  Turner  by 
keeping  her  warm  hand  upon  it,  did  much  ease  ;  but  so 
that  when  we  come  home,  which  was  just  at  eleven  at 
night,  I  was  not  able  to  walk  from  the  lane's  end  to  my 
house  without  being  helped.  So  to  bed,  and  there  had  a 
cere-cloth  laid  to  my  foot,  but  in  great  pain  all  night 
long. 

July  29,  1667. 

This  day  a  man,  a  Quaker,  came  naked  through  the 
Hall  [Westminster],  only  very  civilly  tied  about  the  loins 
to  avoid  scandal,  and  with  a  chafing-dish  of  fire  and 
brimstone  burning  upon  his  head,  did  pass  through  the 
Hall,  crying,  "  Repent !  repent !  " 

September  2,  1667. 

I  dined  with  Sir  G.  Carteret,  with  whom  dined 
Mr.  Jack  Ashburnham  and  Dr.  Creeton,  who  I  observe 
to  be  a  most  good  man  and  scholar.  In  discourse  at 
dinner  concerning  the  change  of  men's  humours  and 
fashions  touching  meats,  Mr.  Ashburnham  told  us, 
that  he  remembers  since  the  only  fruit  in  request,  and 
eaten  by  the  King  and  Queen  at  table  as  the  best 
fruit,  was  the  Catharine  payre,  though  they  knew  at 
the  time  other  fruits  of  France  and  our  own  country. 
After  dinner  comes  in  Mr.  Townsend  ;  and  there  I  was 
witness  of  a  horrid  rateing,  which  Mr.  Ashburnham,  as 
one  of  the  Grooms  of  the  King's  Bedchamber,  did  give 
him  for  want  of  linen  for  the  King's  person  j  which  he 

149 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL  PEPYS 

swore  was  not  to  be  endured,  and  that  the  King 
would  not  endure  it,  and  that  the  King,  his  father, 
would  have  hanged  his  Wardrobe-man  should  he  have 
been  served  so  ;  the  King  having  at  this  day  no  hanker- 
chers,  and  but  three  bands  to  his  neck,  he  swore.  Mr. 
Townsend  pleaded  want  of  money  and  the  owing  of  the 
linen-draper  ^5,000  ;  and  that  he  hath  of  late  got  many 
rich  things  made — beds,  and  sheets,  and  saddles,  without 
money,  and  that  he  can  go  no  further  :  but  still  this  old 
man,  indeed,  like  an  old  loving  servant,  did  cry  out  for 
the  King's  person  to  be  neglected.  But,  when  he  was 
gone,  Townsend  told  me  that  it  is  the  grooms  taking 
away  the  King's  linen  at  the  quarter's  end,  as  their  fee, 
which  makes  this  great  want :  for,  whether  the  King 
can  get  it  or  no,  they  will  run  away  at  the  quarter's  end 
with  what  he  hath  had,  let  the  King  get  more  as 
he  can. 

September  6,  1667. 

To  Bartholomew  fair,  and  there,  it  being  very  dirty, 
and  now  night,  we  saw  a  poor  fellow,  whose  legs  were 
tied  behind  his  back,  dance  upon  his  hands  with  his 
breech  above  his  head,  and  also  dance  upon  his  crutches, 
without  any  legs  upon  the  ground  to  help  him,  which  he 
did  with  that  pain  that  I  was  sorry  to  see  it,  and  did  pity 
him  and  give  him  money  after  he  had  done.  Then  we 
to  see  a  piece  of  clocke-work  made  by  an  Englishman — 
indeed,  very  good,  wherein  all  the  several  states  of  man's 
age,  to  100  years  old,  is  shewn  very  pretty  and  solemne  ; 
and  several  other  things  more  cheerful,  and  so  we  ended, 

150 


MR.    PEPYS   THE   OBSERVER 


and  took  a  link,  the  women  resolving  to  be  dirty,  and 
walked  up  and  down  to  get  a  coach  ;  and  my  wife,  being 
a  little  before  me,  had  like  to  be  taken  up  by  one,  whom 
we  saw  to  be  Sam  Hartlib.  My  wife  had  her  vizard  on  : 
yet  we  cannot  say  that  he  meant  any  hurt ;  for  it 
was  just  as  she  was  by  a  coach-side,  which  he  had,  or 
had  a  mind  to  take  up  ;  and  he  asked  her,  "  Madam, 
do  you  go  in  this  coach  ? "  but,  as  soon  as  he  saw  a  man 
come  to  her,  I  know  not  whether  he  knows  me,  he 
departed  away  apace.  By  and  by  did  get  a  coach,  and  so 
away  home,  and  there  to  supper,  and  to  bed. 

January  I,  1667—68. 

I  met  with  Mr.  Brisband  ;  and  having  it  in  my  mind 
this  Christmas  to  do  what  I  never  can  remember  that 
I  did,  go  to  see  the  gaming  at  the  Groome-Porter's,  I 
having  in  my  coming  from  the  playhouse  stepped  into  the 
two  Temple-halls,  and  there  saw  the  dirty  'prentices  and 
idle  people  playing  ;  wherein  I  was  mistaken,  in  thinking 
to  have  seen  gentlemen  of  quality  playing  there,  as  I 
think  it  was  when  I  was  a  little  child,  that  one  of 
my  father's  servants,  John  Bassum,  I  think,  carried  me 
in  his  arms  thither.  I  did  tell  Brisband  of  it,  and  he  did 
lead  me  thither,  where,  after  staying  an  hour,  they 
begun  to  play  at  about  eight  at  night,  where  to  see  how 
differently  one  man  took  his  losing  from  another,  one 
cursing  and  swearing,  and  another  only  muttering  and 
grumbling  to  himself,  a  third  without  any  apparent 
discontent  at  all :  to  see  how  the  dice  will  run 
good  luck  in  one  hand,  for  half  an  hour  together, 

151 


RED-LETTER   DAYS    OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

and  another  have  no  good  luck  at  all :  to  see 
how  easily  here,  where  they  play  nothing  but 
guinnys,  a  £100  is  won  or  lost :  to  see  two  or  three 
gentlemen  come  in  there  drunk,  and  putting  their  stock 
of  gold  together,  one  22  pieces,  the  second  4,  and 
the  third  5  pieces  ;  and  these  two  play  one  with  another, 
and  forget  how  much  each  of  them  brought,  but  he 
that  brought  the  22  thinks  that  he  brought  no  more 
than  the  rest :  to  see  the  different  humours  of  gamesters 
to  change  their  luck,  when  it  is  bad,  how  ceremonious 
they  are  to  call  for  new  dice,  to  shift  their  places, 
to  alter  their  manner  of  throwing,  and  that  with 
great  industry,  as  if  there  was  anything  in  it  :  to 
see  how  some  old  gamesters,  that  have  no  money 
now  to  spend  as  formerly,  do  come  and  sit  and  look  on, 
and  among  others,  Sir  Lewes  Dives,  who  was  here,  and 
hath  been  a  great  gamester  in  his  time  :  to  hear  their 
cursing  and  damning  to  no  purpose,  as  one  man  being  to 
throw  a  seven  if  he  could,  and,  failing  to  do  it  after 
a  great  many  throws,  cried  he  would  be  damned  if  ever 
he  flung  seven  more  while  he  lived,  his  despair  of 
throwing  it  being  so  great,  while  others  did  it  as  their 
luck  served  almost  every  throw  :  to  see  how  persons  of 
the  best  quality  do  here  sit  down,  and  play  with  people 
of  any,  though  meaner ;  and  to  see  how  people  in  ordi- 
nary clothes  shall  come  hither,  and  play  away  100,  or  2 
or  300  guinnys,  without  any  kind  of  difficulty  :  and 
lastly,  to  see  the  formality  of  the  groome-porter,  who  is 
their  judge  of  all  disputes  in  play  and  all  quarrels  that 
may  arise  therein,  and  how  his  under-officers  are  there  to 

152 


MR.   PEPYS   THE    OBSERVER 


observe  true  play  at  each  table,  and  to  give  new  dice,  is 
a  consideration  I  never  could  have  thought  had  been 
in  the  world,  had  I  not  now  seen  it.  And  mighty  glad 
I  am  that  I  did  see  it,  and  it  may  be  will  find  another 
evening,  before  Christmas  be  over,  to  see  it  again,  when 
I  may  stay  later,  for  their  heat  of  play  begins  not  till 
about  eleven  or  twelve  o'clock  ;  which  did  give  me 
another  pretty  observation  of  a  man,  that  did  win  mighty 
fast  when  I  was  there.  I  think  he  won  ^100  at  single 
pieces  in  a  little  time.  While  all  the  rest  envied  him  his 
good  fortune,  he  cursed  it,  saying,  "it  come  so  early 
upon  me,  for  this  fortune  two  hours  hence  would  be 
worth  something  to  me,  but  then  I  shall  have  no 
such  luck."  This  kind  of  prophane,  mad  entertainment 
they  give  themselves.  And  so  I,  having  enough  for 
once,  refusing  to  venture,  though  Brisband  pressed 
me  hard,  and  tempted  me  with  saying  that  no  man  was 
ever  known  to  lose  the  first  time,  the  devil  being  too 
cunning  to  discourage  a  gamester  ;  and  he  offered  me 
also  to  lend  me  ten  pieces  to  venture ;  but  I  did  refuse, 
and  so  went  away. 

August  22,  1668. 

Going  through  Leaden-Hall,  it  being  market-day, 
I  did  see  a  woman  catched,  that  had  stole  a  shoulder 
of  mutton  off  of  a  butcher's  stall,  and  carrying  it  wrapt 
up  in  a  cloth,  in  a  basket.  The  jade  was  surprised,  and 
did  not  deny  it,  and  the  woman  so  silly  as  to  let  her  go 
that  took  it,  only  taking  the  meat. 


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RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 


THE   PERQUISITES   OF   MR.   PEPYS'S 
OFFICE 

March  25,  1663. 

This  evening  come  Captain  [Edward]  Grove  about 
hiring  ships  for  Tangier.  I  did  hint  to  him  my  desire 
that  I  could  make  some  lawfull  profit  thereof,  which  he 
promises. 

April  3,  1663. 

I  met  Captain  Grove,  who  did  give  me  a  letter 
directed  to  myself  from  himself.  I  discerned  money  to 
be  in  it,  and  took  it,  knowing  as  I  found  it  to  be, 
the  proceed  of  the  place  I  have  got  him  to  be,  the 
taking  up  of  vessels  for  Tangier.  But  I  did  not  open 
it  till  I  come  home — not  looking  into  it  till  all  the 
money  was  out,  that  I  might  say  I  saw  no  money  in 
the  paper,  if  ever  I  should  be  questioned  about  it. 
There  was  a  piece  in  gold,  and  ^4  in  silver. 

November  21,  1663. 

At  noon,  I  receive  a  letter  from  Mr.  Creed,  with  a 
token,  viz.,  a  very  noble  parti-coloured  Indian  gowne  for 

154 


THE   PERQUISITES   OF   MR.    PEPYS'S    OFFICE 

my  wife.  The  letter  is  oddly  writ,  overprizing  his 
present,  and  little  owning  any  past  services  of  mine.  I 
confess  I  had  expectations  of  a  better  account  from  him 
of  my  services  about  his  accounts,  and  so  give  his  boy 
I2d.,  and  sent  it  back  again.  And  this  afternoon  I  went 
to  Ludgate,  and,  by  pricing  several  there,  I  guess  this 
gowne  may  be  worth  about  £12  or  ^15.  But,  however, 
I  expect  at  least  ^50  of  him.  My  mind  being  pretty 
well  at  ease  for  my  receipt  this  afternoon  of  ^17  at  the 
Treasury,  paid  a  year  since  to  the  carver  for  his  work  at 
my  house,  which  I  did  intend  to  have  paid  myself,  but, 
finding  others  to  do  it,  I  thought  it  not  amisse  to  get 
it  too. 

February  u,  1663-64. 

Mr.  Falconer  come  and  visited  my  wife,  and  brought 
her  a  present — a  silver  state-cup  and  cover,  value  about 
three  or  ^4,  for  the  courtesy  I  did  him  the  other  day.  I 
am  almost  sorry  for  this  present,  because  I  would  have 
reserved  him  for  a  place  to  go  in  summer  a-visiting  at 
Woolwich  with  my  wife. 

May  2,  1664. 

To  my  office,  whither  comes  Mr.  Bland,  and  paid  me 
the  debt  he  acknowledged  he  owed  me  for  my  service  in 
his  business  of  the  Tangier  merchant — twenty  pieces  of 
new  gold,  a  pleasant  sight.  It  cheered  my  heart  ;  and, 
he  being  gone,  I  home  to  supper,  and  shewed  them  my 
wife  ;  and  she,  poor  wretch,  would  fain  have  kept  them 
to  look  on,  without  any  other  design  but  a  simple  love  to 

155 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

them  ;   but  I  thought  it  not  convenient,  and  so  took 
them  into  my  own  hand. 

September  16,  1664. 

Mr.  Gauden  coming  to  me,  I  had  a  good  opportunity 
to  speak  to  him  about  his  present,  which  hitherto  hath 
been  a  burden  to  me,  because  I  was  doubtfull  that  he 
meant  it  as  a  temptation  to  me,  to  stand  by  him  in  the 
business  of  Tangier  victualling  ;  but  he  clears  me  it  was 
not,  and  that  what  he  did  was  for  my  old  kindnesses  to 
him,  and  dispatching  of  his  business.  Met  Sir  W. 
Warren,  and  afterwards  to  the  Sun  taverne,  where  he 
brought  to  me,  being  all  alone,  a  ^100  in  a  bag,  which 
I  offered  him  to  give  him  my  receipt  for,  but  he  told  me 
no,  it  was  my  owne,  which  he  had  a  little  while  since 
promised  me  ;  and  so  most  kindly  he  did  give  it  me,  and 
I  as  joyfully,  even  out  of  myself,  carried  it  home  in  a 
coach — he  himself  expressly  taking  care  that  nobody 
might  see  this  business  done,  though  I  was  willing  enough 
to  have  carried  a  servant  with  me  to  have  received  it,  but 
he  advised  me  to  do  it  myself. 

April  17,  1665. 

This  day  was  left  at  my  house  a  very  neat  silver  watch 
by  one  Briggs,  a  scrivener  and  solicitor,  which  I  was 
angry  with  my  wife  for  receiving,  or,  at  least,  for  opening 
the  box  wherein  it  was,  and  so  far  witnessing  our  receipt 
of  it,  as  to  give  the  messenger  55.  for  bringing  it ;  but  it 
can't  be  helped,  and  I  will  endeavour  to  do  the  man  a 
kindness,  he  being  a  friend  of  my  uncle  Wight's. 

156    ' 


THE   PERQUISITES    OF   MR.    PEPYS'S  OFFICE 

August  7,  1665. 

Comes  Rayner,  the  boat-maker,  about  some  business, 
and  brings  a  piece  of  plate  with  him,  which  I  refused. 
He  gone,  then  comes  Luellin,  about  Mr.  Deering's 
business  of  planke,  to  have  the  contract  perfected,  and 
offers  me  twenty  pieces  in  gold,  but  I  refused  it. 

November  26,  1667. 

After  dinner  come  to  me  Mr.  Warren,  and  there  did 
tell  me  that  he  come  to  pay  his  debt  to  me  for  the  kind- 
ness I  did  him  in  getting  his  last  ship  out,  which  I  must 
also  remember  was  a  service  to  the  King,  though  I  did 
not  tell  him  so.  He  would  present  me  with  sixty  pieces 
in  gold.  I  told  him  I  would  demand  nothing  of  his 
promises,  though  they  were  much  greater,  nor  would 
have  thus  much,  but  if  he  could  afford  to  give  me  but 
fifty  pieces,  it  should  suffice  me.  So  now  he  brought 
something  in  a  paper,  which  since  proves  to  be  fifty 
pieces. 

February  21,  1667-68. 

Comes  to  me  young  Captain  Beckford,  the  slopseller, 
and  there  presents  me  a  little  purse  with  gold  in  it,  it 
being,  as  he  told  me,  for  his  present  to  me,  at  the  end  of 
the  last  year.  I  told  him  I  had  not  done  him  any  service 
I  knew  of.  He  persisted,  and  I  refused  ;  and  telling  him 
that  it  was  not  an  age  to  make  presents  in,  he  told  me  he 
had  reason  to  present  me  with  something,  and  desired  me 
to  accept  of  it,  which,  at  his  so  urging  me,  I  did. 

'57 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 


MR.  PEPYS'S    PERSONAL  APPEARANCE 

May  25,  1662. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  trimming  myself,  which  I  have 
this  week  done  every  morning,  with  a  pumice  stone, 
which  I  learnt  of  Mr.  March,  when  I  was  last  at 
Portsmouth ;  and  I  find  it  very  easy,  speedy,  and  cleanly, 
and  shall  continue  the  practice  of  it. 

May  31,  1662. 

Had  Sarah  to  comb  my  head  clean,  which  I  found  so 
foul  with  powdering  and  other  troubles,  that  I  am 
resolved  to  try  how  I  can  keep  my  head  dry  without 
powder ;  and  I  did  also  in  a  sudden  fit  cut  off  all  my 
beard,  which  I  had  been  a  great  while  bringing  up,  only 
that  I  may  with  my  pumice  stone  do  my  whole  face  as  I 
now  do  my  chin,  and  so  save  time,  which  I  find  a  very 
easy  way,  and  gentile.  She  also  washed  my  feet  in  a 
bath  of  herbes,  and  so  to  bed. 

May  9,  1663. 

At  Mr.  Jervas's,  my  old  barber,  I  did  try  two  or  three 
borders  and  perriwiggs,  meaning  to  wear  one ;  and  yet  I 

158 


MR.  PEPYS'S  PERSONAL  APPEARANCE 

have  no  stomach  [for  it],  but  that  the  pains  of  keeping 
my  hair  clean  is  so  great.  He  trimmed  me,  and  at  last  I 
parted,  but  my  mind  was  almost  altered  from  my  first 
purpose,  from  the  trouble  that  I  foresee  will  be  in  wearing 
them  also. 

November  13,  1663. 

After  dinner,  come  my  perriwigg-maker,  and  brings 
me  a  second  perriwigg,  made  of  my  own  hair,  which 
comes  to  2 is.  6d.  more  than  the  worth  of  my  own  hair, 
so  that  they  both  come  to  ^4  is.  6d.,  which  he  sayth 
will  serve  me  two  years,  but  I  fear  it.  He  being  gone,  I 
to  my  office,  and  put  on  my  new  shagg  purple  gown, 
with  gold  buttons  and  loop-lace. 

January  6,  1663—64. 

(Twelfth  day.)  This  morning  I  began  a  practice, 
which  I  find,  by  the  ease  I  do  it  with,  that  I  shall 
continue,  it  saving  me  money  and  time;  that  is,  to 
trimme  myself  with  a  razer :  which  pleases  me  mightily. 

April  29,  1666. 

Weary  to  bed,  after  having  my  hair  of  my  head  cut 
shorter,  even  close  to  my  skull,  for  coolness,  it  being 
mighty  hot  weather. 

September  17,  1666. 

Up  betimes,  and  shaved  myself  after  a  week's  growth : 
but,  Lord  !  how  ugly  I  was  yesterday,  and  how  fine 
to-day ! 

159 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

November  12,  1666. 

Going  to  Sir  R.  Viner's,  I  did  get  such  a  splash  and 
spots  of  dirt  upon  my  new  vest,  that  I  was  out  of 
countenance  to  be  seen  in  the  street. 


1 60 


MR.   PEPYS   AT   THE    PLAY 


MR.    PEPYS   AT  THE   PLAY 

October  II,  1660. 

In  the  Park,  we  met  with  Mr.  Salisbury,  who  took  Mr. 
Creed  and  me  to  the  Cockpit  to  see  "  The  Moor  of 
Venice,"  which  was  well  done.  Burt  acted  the  Moor  ; 
by  the  same  token,  a  very  pretty  lady  that  sat  by  me 
called  out,  to  see  Desdemona  smothered.  With  Mr. 
Creed  to  Hercules  Pillars,  where  we  drank. 

January  28,  1 660-61. 

I  went  to  Mr.  Crewe's,  and  thence  to  the  Theatre, 
where  I  saw  again  "  The  Lost  Lady,"  which  do  now 
please  me  better  than  before  ;  and  here  I  sitting  behind 
in  a  dark  place,  a  lady  spit  backward  upon  me  by  a 
mistake,  not  seeing  me;  but  after  seeing  her  to  be  a  very 
pretty  lady,  I  was  not  troubled  at  it  at  all. 

March  2,  1661. 

After  dinner  I  went  to  the  theatre,  where  I  found  so 
few  people  (which  is  strange,  and  the  reason  I  do  not 
know)  that  I  went  out  again,  and  so  to  Salisbury  Court, 
where  the  house  as  full  as  could  be ;  and  it  seems  it  was 
a  new  play,  "The  Queen's  Maske,"  wherein  there  are 

161  M 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

some  good  humours;  among  others,  a  good  jeer  to  the 
old  story  of  the  Siege  of  Troy,  making  it  to  be  a  common 
country  tale.  But  above  all  it  was  strange  to  see  so 
little  a  boy  as  that  was  to  act  Cupid,  which  is  one  of  the 
greatest  parts  in  it. 

March  23,  1661. 

To  the  Red  Bull1  (where  I  had  not  been  since  plays 
come  up  again)  up  to  the  tireing-room,  where  strange 
the  confusion  and  disorder  there  is  among  them  in  fitting 
themselves,  especially  here,  where  the  clothes  are  very 
poore,  and  the  actors  but  common  fellows.  At  last  into 
the  pitt,  where  I  think  there  was  not  above  ten  more 
than  myself,  and  not  one  hundred  in  the  whole  house. 
And  the  play,  which  is  called  "  All's  Lost  but  Lust," 
poorly  done ;  and  with  so  much  disorder,  among  others, 
in  the  musique-room,  the  boy  that  was  to  sing  a  song, 
not  singing  it  right,  his  master  fell  about  his  eares  and 
beat  him  so,  that  it  put  the  whole  house  into  an  uprore. 

July  2,  1 66 1. 

Went  to  Sir  William  Davenant's  Opera,  this  being 
the  fourth  day  that  it  hath  begun,  and  the  first  that 
I  have  seen  it.  To-day  was  acted  the  second  part  of 
"  The  Siege  of  Rhodes."  We  staid  a  very  great  while 
for  the  King  and  Queen  of  Bohemia  ;  and  by  the 

1  The  Red  Bull  was  in  St.  John  Street,  Clerkenwell  ;  but  of  an  inferior 
rank  to  the  Globe  and  Blackfriars  Theatres,  and  is  described  as 

"that  degenerate  stage, 

Where  none  of  the  unturn'd  kennel  can  rehearse 
A  line  of  serious  sense." 

l62 


MR.    PEPYS  AT  THE    PLAY 


breaking  of  a  board  over  our  heads,  we  had  a  great  deal 
of  dust  fell  into  the  ladies'  necks  and  the  men's  haire, 
which  made  good  sport.  The  King  being  come,  the 
scene  opened  ;  which  indeed  is  very  fine  and  magnificent, 
and  well  acted,  all  but  the  Eunuche,  who  was  so  much 
out  that  he  was  hissed  off  the  stage. 

August  15,  1 66 1. 

To  the  Opera,  which  begins  again  to-day  with  "  The 
Witts,"  never  acted  yet  with  scenes  ;  and  the  King  and 
Duke  and  Duchess  were  there,  who  dined  to-day  with 
Sir  H.  Finch,  reader  at  the  Temple,  in  great  state  j  and 
indeed  it  is  a  most  excellent  play,  and  admirable  scenes. 

August  17,  1 66 1. 

I  to  the  Opera,  and  saw  "  The  Witts  "  again,  which 
I  like  exceedingly.  The  Queen  of  Bohemia  was  here, 
brought  by  my  Lord  Craven.  Troubled  in  mind  that  I 
cannot  bring  myself  to  mind  my  business,  but  to  be  so 
much  in  love  of  plays. 

October  28,  1 66 1. 

To  the  Theatre,  and  there  saw  "Argalus  and  Par- 
thenia,"  where  a  woman  acted  Parthenia,  and  come 
afterwards  on  the  stage  in  men's  clothes,  and  had  the  best 
legs  that  ever  I  saw,  and  I  was  very  well  pleased  with  it. 

September  29,  1662. 

(Michaelmas  day.)  This  day  my  oaths  for  drinking 
of  wine  and  going  to  plays  are  out ;  and  so  I  do  resolve 

163 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

to  take  a  liberty  to-day,  and  then  to  fall  to  them  again. 
To  Mr.  Coventry's,  and  so  with  him  and  Sir  W.  Pen  up 
to  the  Duke,  where  the  King  come  also,  and  staid  till 
the  Duke  was  ready.  It  being  Collar-day,  we  had  no 
time  to  talk  with  him  about  any  business.  To  the 
King's  Theatre,  where  we  saw  "  Midsummer  Night's 
Dream,"  which  I  had  never  seen  before,  nor  shall  ever 
again,  for  it  is  the  most  insipid,  ridiculous  play  that  ever 
I  saw  in  my  life. 

September  30,  1662. 

To  the  Duke's  play-house,  where  we  saw  "The 
Duchess  of  Malfy  "  J  well  performed,  but  Betterton  and 
lanthe  (Mrs.  Betterton)  to  admiration.  Strange  to  see 
how  easily  my  mind  do  revert  to  its  former  practice  of 
loving  plays  and  wine  ;  but  this  night  I  have  again 
bound  myself  to  Christmas  next. 

October  2,  1662. 

At  night,  hearing  that  there  was  a  play  at  the  Cockpit, 
and  my  Lord  Sandwich,  who  come  to  town  last  night, 
at  it,  I  do  go  thither,  and  by  very  great  fortune  did 
follow  four  or  five  gentlemen  who  were  carried  to  a  little 
private  door  in  a  wall,  and  so  crept  through  a  narrow 
place,  and  come  into  one  of  the  boxes  next  the  King's, 
but  so  as  I  could  not  see  the  King  or  Queen,  but  many 
of  the  fine  ladies,  who  yet  are  not  really  so  handsome 
generally  as  I  used  to  take  them  to  be,  but  that  they 
are  finely  dressed.  Then  we  saw  "  The  Cardinall,"  a 

1  A  tragedy  by  John  Webster. 
164 


MR.    PEPYS   AT   THE    PLAY 


tragedy  I  had  never  seen  before,  nor  is  there  any  great 
matter  in  it.  The  company  that  come  in  with  me  into 
the  box  were  all  Frenchmen,  that  could  speak  no  English ; 
but,  Lord  !  what  sport  they  made  to  ask  a  pretty  lady 
that  they  got  among  them,  that  understood  both  French 
and  English,  to  make  her  tell  them  what  the  actors  said. 

January  i,  1662-63. 

After  dinner,  to  the  Duke's  house,  where  we  saw 
"  The  Villaine  "  againe  ;  and  the  more  I  see  it,  the  more 
I  am  offended  at  my  first  undervaluing  the  play,  it  being 
very  good  and  pleasant,  and  yet  a  true  and  allowable 
tragedy.  The  house  was  full  of  citizens,  and  so  the  less 
pleasant,  but  that  I  was  willing  to  make  an  end  of  my 
gaddings.  Here  we  saw  the  old  Roxalana  in  the  chief 
box,  in  a  velvet  gown,  as  the  fashion  is,  and  very 
handsome,  at  which  I  was  glad. 

"January  6,  1662-63. 

To  the  Duke's  house,  and  there  saw  Twelfth-Night 
acted  well,  though  it  be  but  a  silly  play,  and  not 
relating  at  all  to  the  name  or  day. 

January  8,  1662-63. 

Dined  at  home  ;  and  there  being  the  famous  new 
play  acted  the  first  time  to-day,  which  is  called  "  The 
Adventures  of  Five  Hours,"  at  the  Duke's  house,  being, 
they  say,  made  or  translated  by  Colonel  Tuke,1  I  did 

1  Sir  George  Tuke,  of  Creasing  Temple,  in  Essex,  John  Evelyn's  cousin. 
The  play  was  taken  from  the  original  of  the  Spanish  poet,  Calderon.  Evelyn 
saw  it  on  the  same  occasion. 

I65 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

long  to  see  it ;  and  so  we  went  ;  and  though  early, 
were  forced  to  sit,  almost  out  of  sight,  at  the  end  of  one 
of  the  lower  formes,  so  full  was  the  house.  And  the 
play,  in  one  word,  is  the  best,  for  the  variety  and  the 
most  excellent  continuance  of  the  plot  to  the  very  end, 
that  ever  I  saw,  or  think  ever  shall,  and  all  possible,  not 
only  to  be  done  in  the  time,  but  in  most  other  respects 
very  admittable,  and  without  one  word  of  ribaldry  ;  and 
the  house,  by  its  frequent  plaudits,  did  show  their 
sufficient  approbation.  So  home  ;  with  much  ado  in  an 
hour  getting  a  coach  home,  and  now  resolving  to  set 
up  my  rest  as  to  plays  till  Easter,  if  not  Whitsuntide 
next,  excepting  plays  at  Court. 

May  8,  1663. 

Took  my  wife  and  Ashwell  to  the  Theatre  Royall, 
being  the  second  day  of  its  being  opened.  The  house 
is  made  with  extraordinary  good  convenience,  and  yet 
hath  some  faults,  as  the  narrowness  of  the  passages  in 
and  out  of  the  pit,  and  the  distance  from  the  stage  to 
the  boxes,  which  I  am  confident  cannot  hear  ;  but  for  all 
other  things  is  well ;  only,  above  all,  the  musique  being 
below,  and  most  of  it  sounding  under  the  very  stage, 
there  is  no  hearing  of  the  bases  at  all,  nor  very  well  of 
the  trebles,  which  sure  must  be  mended.  The  play  was 
"The  Humorous  Lieutenant,"  a  play  that  hath  little 
good  in  it,  nor  much  in  the  very  part  which,  by  the 
King's  command,  Lacy  now  acts,  instead  of  Clun.  In 
the  dance,  the  tall  devil's  actions  was  very  pretty.  The 
play  being  done,  we  home  by  water,  having  been  a  little 

166 


MR.    PEPYS  AT  THE    PLAY 


shamed  that  my  wife  and  woman  were  in  such  a  pickle, 
all  the  ladies  being  finer  and  better  dressed  in  the  pit  than 
they  used,  I  think,  to  be.  To  my  office,  to  set  down 
this  day's  passage,  and,  though  my  oath  against  going 
to  plays  do  not  oblige  me  against  this  house,  because 
it  was  not  then  in  being,  yet,  believing  that  at  the 
time  my  meaning  was  against  all  public  houses,  I  am 
resolved  to  deny  myself  the  liberty  of  two  plays  at 
Court,  which  are  in  arreare  to  me  for  the  months  of 
March  and  April. 

"June  12,  1663. 

To  the  Royal  Theatre ;  and  there  saw  "  The  Com- 
mittee" a  merry  but  indifferent  play,  only  Lacy's 
part,  an  Irish  footman,  is  beyond  imagination.  Here  I 
saw  my  Lord  Falconbridge,  and  his  lady,  my  Lady 
Mary  Cromwell,  who  looks  as  well  as  I  have  known 
her,  and  well  clad  :  but  when  the  house  began  to  fill, 
she  put  on  her  vizard,1  and  so  kept  it  on  all  the  play ; 
which  of  late  is  become  a  great  fashion  among  the 

1  Vizard  Masques  probably  came  into  fashion  about  this  time.  On  the 
ist  of  June,  1704,  a  song  was  sung  at  the  theatre  in  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields 
called  "  The  Misses'  Lamentation  for  want  of  their  Vizard  Masques  at  the 
Theatre."  Notwithstanding  the  gross  licentiousness  of  the  drama,  after 
the  Restoration,  numbers  of  females  of  all  denominations  frequented  the 
theatres,  though  many  of  them  wore  masks  to  disguise  their  features,  and 
this  bad  habit  had  a  still  worse  effect,  by  the  facilities  it  afforded  to  intrigue 
and  assignation.  The  custom  is  pointedly  referred  to  in  Pope's  well-known 
lines  : — 

"  The  fair  sat  painting  at  a  courtier's  play, 
And  not  a  Mask  went  improved  away  ; 
The  modest  fan  was  lifted  up  no  more, 
And  virgins  smiled  at  what  they  blushed  before." 
167 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

ladies,  which  hides  their  whole  face.  So  to  the  Ex- 
change, to  buy  things  with  my  wife  ;  among  others,  a 
vizard  for  herself. 

"January  I,  1663-64. 

Went  to  the  Duke's  house,  the  first  play  I  have  been 
at  these  six  months,  according  to  my  last  vowe,  and  here 
saw  the  so  much  cried-up  play  of  "  Henry  the  Eighth," 
which,  though  I  went  with  resolution  to  like  it,  is  so 
simple  a  thing,  made  up  of  a  great  many  patches,  that, 
besides  the  shows  and  processions  in  it,  there  is  nothing 
in  the  world  good  or  well  done. 

February  I,  1663-64. 

To  the  King's  Theatre,  and  there  saw  "  The  Indian 
Queene  "  acted  ;  which  indeed  is  a  most  pleasant  show, 
and  beyond  my  expectation  ;  the  play  good,  but  spoiled 
with  the  ryme,  which  breaks  the  sense.  But  above  my 
expectation  most,  the  eldest  Marshall  did  do  her  part 
most  excellently  well  as  I  ever  heard  woman  in  my  life ; 
but  her  voice  is  not  so  sweet  as  lanthe's  :  but,  however, 
we  come  home  mightily  contented. 

June  i,  1664. 

To  the  King's  house,  and  saw  "The  Silent  Woman  ;" 
but  methought  not  so  well  done  or  so  good  a  play  as  I 
formerly  thought  it  to  be.  Before  the  play  was  done,  it 
fell  such  a  storm  of  hayle,  that  we  in  the  middle  of  the 
pit  were  fain  to  rise;  and  all  the  house  in  a  disorder.1 

1  The  Blackfriars  Theatre  was  entirely  roofed  over,  and  had  a  pit,  instead 
of  a  mere  enclosed  yard  ;  whilst  the  stage  portion  alone  of  the  public  play- 
houses was  protected  from  the  weather.  The  house  was  lighted  by  a  cupola. 

1 68 


MR.    PEPYS  AT   THE   PLAY 


August  2,  1664. 

To  the  King's  playhouse,  and  there  saw  "  Bartholo- 
mew Fayre,"  which  do  still  please  me  ;  and  is,  as  it  is 
acted,  the  best  comedy  in  the  world,  I  believe.  I 
chanced  to  sit  by  Tom  Killigrew,  who  tells  me  that  he 
is  setting  up  a  Nursery  [for  actors]  ;  that  is,  is  going  to 
build  a  house  in  Moorefields,  wherein  he  will  have 
common  plays  acted.  But  four  operas  it  shall  have  in 
the  year,  to  act  six  weeks  at  a  time  :  where  we  shall  have 
the  best  scenes  and  machines,  the  best  musique  and  every 
thing  as  magnificent  as  is  in  Christendome  ;  and  to  that 
end,  hath  sent  for  voices  and  painters  and  other  persons 
from  Italy.  Thence  homeward  called  upon  my  Lord 
Marlborough. 

August  4,  1664. 

To  a  play  at  the  King's  house,  "  The  Rivall  Ladys," J 
a  very  innocent  and  most  pretty  witty  play.  I  was  much 
pleased  with  it,  and,  it  being  given  me,2  I  look  upon  it 
as  no  breach  of  my  oath.  Here  we  hear  that  Clun,  one 
of  their  best  actors,  was,  the  last  night,  going  out  of 
towne,  after  he  had  acted  the  Alchymist,  wherein  was 
one  of  his  best  parts  that  he  acts,  to  his  country-house, 
set  upon  and  murdered  ;  one  of  the  rogues  taken,  an  Irish 
fellow.  It  seems  most  cruelly  butchered  and  bound. 
The  house  will  have  a  great  miss  of  him. 

March  19,  1666. 

After  dinner,  we  walked  to  the  King's  playhouse,  all  in 

1  A  tragedy  by  Dryclen.  2  His  companion  paid  for  him. 

169 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

dirt,  they  being  altering  of  the  stage  to  make  it  wider. 
But  God  knows  when  they  will  begin  to  act  again  ;  but 
my  business  here  was  to  see  the  inside  of  the  stage  and 
all  the  tiring-rooms  and  machines ;  and,  indeed,  it  was  a 
sight  worthy  seeing.  But  to  see  their  clothes,  and  the 
various  sorts,  and  what  a  mixture  of  things  there  was  ; 
here  a  wooden  leg,  there  a  ruff,  here  a  hobby-horse, 
there  a  crown,  would  make  a  man  split  himself  to  see 
with  laughing ;  and  particularly  Lacy's  wardrobe,  and 
Shotrell's.  But  then  again  to  think  how  fine  they  show 
on  the  stage  by  candle-light,  and  how  poor  things  they 
are  to  look  at  too  near  hand,  is  not  pleasant  at  all.  The 
machines  are  fine,  and  the  paintings  very  pretty. 

January  7,  1666-67. 

To  the  Duke's  house,  and  saw  "  Macbeth,"  which 
though  I  saw  it  lately,  yet  appears  a  most  excellent  play 
in  all  respects,  but  especially  in  divertisement,  though  it 
be  a  deep  tragedy  ;  which  is  a  strange  perfection  in  a 
tragedy,  it  being  most  proper  here,  and  suitable. 

January  23,  1666—67. 

To  take  up  my  wife  and  Mercer,  and  to  Temple  Bar 
to  the  Ordinary,  and  had  a  dish  of  meat  for  them,  they 
having  not  dined,  and  thence  to  the  King's  house,  and 
there  saw  "  The  Humerous  Lieutenant :  "  a  silly  play,  I 
think ;  only  the  Spirit  in  it  that  grows  very  tall,  and 
then  sinks  again  to  nothing,  having  two  heads  breeding 
upon  one,  and  then  Knipp's  singing,  did  please  us.  Here, 
in  a  box  above,  we  spied  Mrs.  Pierce  ;  and,  going  out, 

170 


Emery  Walker. 


NELL  GWYX. 
From  an  engraving  after  Sir  P.  Lely. 


MR.    PEPYS   AT   THE    PLAY 


they  called  us,  and  so  we  staid  for  them  ;  and  Knipp 
took  us  all  in,  and  brought  to  us  Nelly,1  a  most  pretty 
woman,  who  acted  the  great  part  of  Coelia  to-day  very 
fine,  and  did  it  pretty  well  :  I  kissed  her,  and  so  did 
my  wife  ;  and  a  mighty  pretty  soul  she  is.  We  also 
saw  Mrs.  Hall,  which  is  my  little  Roman-nose  black 
girl,  that  is  mighty  pretty  :  she  is  usually  called  Betty. 
Knipp  made  us  stay  in  a  box  and  see  the  dancing  prepara- 
tory to  to-morrow  for  "The  Goblins,"  a  play  of  Suck- 
ling's, not  acted  these  twenty-five  years ;  which  was 
pretty  ;  and  so  away  thence,  pleased  with  this  sight  also, 
and  specially  kissing  of  Nell. 

February  4,  1 666-67. 

Soon  as  dined,  my  wife  and  I  out  to  the  Duke's  play- 
house, and  there  saw  "  Heraclius,"  an  excellent  play,  to 
my  extraordinary  content ;  and  the  more  from  the  house 
being  very  full,  and  great  company  ;  among  others,  Mrs. 
Stewart,  very  fine,  with  her  locks  done  up  with  puffes,  as 
my  wife  calls  them  :  and  several  other  great  ladies  had 
their  hair  so,  though  I  do  not  like  it  ;  but  my  wife  do 
mightily — but  it  is  only  because  she  sees  it  is  the  fashion. 
Here  I  saw  my  Lord  Rochester  and  his  lady,  Mrs. 
Mallet,  who  hath  after  all  this  ado  married  him  ;  and,  as 
I  hear  some  say  in  the  pit,  it  is  a  great  act  of  charity,  for 
he  hath  no  estate.  But  it  was  pleasant  to  see  how  every- 
body rose  up  when  my  Lord  John  Butler,  the  Duke  of 
Ormond's  son,  came  into  the  pit  towards  the  end  of  the 

1  Nell  Gwynne.  Mr.  Pepys  does  not  use  her  surname  in  speaking  of 
her.— E.  F.  A. 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

play,  who  was  a  servant  to  Mrs.  Mallet,  and  now  smiled 
upon  her,  and  she  on  him.  I  had  sitting  next  to  me  a 
woman,  the  likest  my  Lady  Castlemaine  that  ever  I  saw 
anybody  like  another  ;  but  she  is  acquainted  with  every 
fine  fellow,  and  called  them  by  their  name,  Jacke,  and 
Tom,  and  before  the  end  of  the  play  frisked  to  another 
place. 

March  2,  1667. 

After  dinner,  with  my  wife,  to  the  King's  house  to 
see  "  The  Maiden  Queene,"  a  new  play  of  Dryden's, 
mightily  commended  for  the  regularity  of  it,  and  the 
strain  and  wit  ;  and  the  truth  is,  there  is  a  comical  part 
done  by  Nell,  which  is  Florimell,  that  I  never  can  hope 
ever  to  see  the  like  done  again,  by  man  or  woman. 
The  King  and  Duke  of  York  were  at  the  play.  But  so 
great  performance  of  a  comical  part  was  never,  I  believe, 
in  the  world  before  as  Nell  do  this,  both  as  a  mad  girle, 
then  most  and  best  of  all  when  she  comes  in  like  a 
young  gallant ;  and  hath  the  motions  and  carriage  of  a 
spark  the  most  that  ever  I  saw  any  man  have.  It  makes 
me,  I  confess,  admire  her. 

April  9,  1667. 

To  the  King's  house,  and  there  saw  "  The  Tameing 
of  a  Shrew,"  which  hath  some  very  good  pieces  in  it,  but 
generally  is  but  a  mean  play  ;  and  the  best  part,  "  Sawny,"1 

1  In  1698,  was  printed  a  drama  called  "  Sawney  the  Scot,  or  the  Taming 
of  a  Shrew,"  which  was  a  clumsy  alteration  of  Shakespeare's  play,  the 
work  of  Lacy,  for  the  purpose  of  affording  him  an  opportunity  of  dis- 

172 


MR.    PEPYS  AT   THE   PLAY 


done  by  Lacy  ;  and  hath  not  half  its  life,  by  reason  of  the 
words,  I  suppose,  not  being  understood,  at  least  by  me. 

April  19,  1667. 

To  the  play-house,  where  saw  "Macbeth,"  which, 
though  I  have  seen  it  often,  yet  is  it  one  of  the  best  plays 
for  a  stage,  and  variety  of  dancing  and  musick,  that  ever 
I  saw.  My  wife  tells  me  that  she  finds  by  W.  Hewer 
that  my  people  do  observe  my  minding  my  pleasure 
more  than  usual,  which  I  confess,  and  am  ashamed  of, 
and  so  from  this  day  take  upon  me  to  leave  it  till 
Whit-Sunday. 

May  i,  1667. 

Away  to  the  King's  play-house,  and  saw  "  Love  in  a 
Maze  :"  but  a  sorry  play :  only  Lacy's  clowne's  part, 
which  he  did  most  admirably  indeed  ;  and  I  am  glad  to 
find  the  rogue  at  liberty  again.  Here  was  but  little,  and 
that  ordinary,  company.  We  sat  at  the  upper  bench 
next  the  boxes ;  and  I  find  it  do  pretty  well,  and  have 
the  advantage  of  seeing  and  hearing  the  great  people, 
which  may  be  pleasant  when  there  is  good  store.  Now 
was  only  Prince  Rupert  and  my  Lord  Lauderdale,  and 

tinguishing  himself  as  an  actor.  This  is  the  piece  which  Pepys  saw ;  as,  in 
the  old  anonymous  copy  of  "  The  Taming  of  a  Shrew,"  which  was  the  foun- 
dation of  Shakespeare's  drama,  Sawney  had  been  called  Sander ;  and  no 
doubt  the  notion  of  representing  Grumio  as  a  Scotchman  arose  out  of  the 
circumstance  of  his  having  been  called  Sander  before  Shakespeare  availed 
himself  of  the  story.  The  old  "  Taming  of  a  Shrew  "  was  reprinted  in 
1844,  from  the  unique  copy  of  1594,  in  the  library  of  the  Duke  of 
Devonshire,  for  the  Shakespeare  Society,  and  edited  by  the  late  Thomas 
Amyot  Esq.,  F.A.S. 

173 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

my  Lord ,x  the  naming  of  whom  puts  me  in  mind 

of  my  seeing,  at  Sir  Robert  Viner's,  two  or  three 
great  silver  flagons,  made  with  inscriptions  as  gifts  of 
the  King  to  such  and  such  persons  of  quality  as  did 
stay  in  town  the  late  great  plague,  for  the  keeping 
things  in  order  in  the  town.  But  here  was  neither  Hart, 
Nell,  nor  Knipp ;  therefore,  the  play  was  not  likely  to 
please  me. 
May  22,  1667. 

To  the  King's  house,  where  I  did  give  i8d.,  and  saw 
the  last  two  acts  of  "  The  Goblins,"  a  play  I  could 
not  make  anything  of  by  these  two  acts,  but  here 
Knipp  spied  me  out  of  the  tiring-room,  and  come  to  the 
pit  door,  and  I  out  to  her,  and  kissed  her,  she  only 
coming  to  see  me,  being  in  a  country-dress,  she  and 
others  having,  it  seems,  had  a  country-dance  in  the  play, 
but  she  no  other  part ;  so  we  parted,  and  I  into  the  pit 
again  till  it  was  done.  The  house  full,  but  I  had  no 
mind  to  be  seen. 
August  15,  1667. 

Sir  W.  Pen  and  I  to  the  Duke's  house  ;  where  a  new 
play.  The  King  and  Court  there  :  the  house  full,  and 
an  act  begun.  And  so  we  went  to  the  King's,  and  there 
saw  "  The  Merry  Wives  of  Windsor  ;  "  which  did  not 
please  me  at  all,  in  no  part  of  it. 
August  16,  1667. 

My  wife  and  I  to  the  Duke's  playhouse,  where  we 

1  Probably  Craven. 
174 


MR.    PEPYS  AT  THE   PLAY 


saw  the  play  acted  yesterday,  "  The  Feign  Innocence, 
or  Sir  Martin  Marall  ; "  a  play  made  by  my  Lord  Duke 
of  Newcastle,  but,  as  everybody  says,  corrected  by 
Dryden.1  It  is  the  most  entire  piece  of  mirth,  a  com- 
plete farce,  from  one  end  to  the  other,  that  certainly 
was  ever  writ.  I  never  laughed  so  in  all  my  life,  and  at 
very  good  wit  therein,  not  fooling.  The  House  full, 
and  in  all  things  of  mighty  content  to  me. 

August  17,  1667. 

To  the  King's  playhouse,  where  the  house  extra- 
ordinary full  ;  and  there  the  King  and  Duke  of  York 
to  see  the  new  play,  "  Queen  Elizabeth's  Troubles, 
and  the  History  of  Eighty  Eight."  I  confess  I  have 
sucked  in  so  much  of  the  sad  story  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
from  my  cradle,  that  I  was  ready  to  weep  for  her  some- 
times ;  but  the  play  is  the  most  ridiculous  that  sure 
ever  came  upon  the  stage,  and,  indeed,  is  merely  a  show, 
only  shows  the  true  garbe  of  the  Queen  in  those  days, 
just  as  we  see  Queen  Mary  and  Queen  Elizabeth 
painted  :  but  the  play  is  merely  a  puppet  play,  acted  by 
living  puppets.  Neither  the  design  nor  language  better  ; 
and  one  stands  by  and  tells  us  the  meaning  of  things : 
only  I  was  pleased  to  see  Knipp  dance  among  the  milk- 
maids, and  to  hear  her  sing  a  song  to  Queen  Elizabeth  ; 
and  to  see  her  comfe  out  in  her  night-gowne  with  no 
lockes  on,  but  her  bare  face  and  hair  only  tied  up  in  a 

1  Dowries  says  that  the  Duke  gave  this  comedy  to  Dryden,  who  adapted 
it  to  the  stage ;  but  it  is  entered  on  the  books  of  the  Stationers'  Company 
as  the  production  of  his  Grace. 

175 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

knot  behind  ;  which  is  the  comeliest  dress  that  ever  I  saw 
her  in  to  her  advantage. 

August  24,  1667. 

After  dinner  to  a  play,  and  there  saw  "  The  Cardinall  " 
at  the  King's  house,  wherewith  I  am  mightily  pleased  : 
but,  above  all,  with  Becke  Marshall.  But  it  is  pretty  to 
see  how  I  look  up  and  down  for,  and  did  spy  Knipp  ; 
but  durst  not  own  it  to  my  wife,  for  fear  of  angering  her, 
and  so  I  was  forced  not  to  take  notice  of  her  and 
so  homeward  :  and  my  belly  now  full  with  plays, 
that  I  do  intend  to  bind  myself  to  see  no  more  till 
Michaelmas. 

September  4,  1667. 

To  the  Duke  of  York's  playhouse,  and  there  saw 
"  Mustapha  ;  "  which,  the  more  I  see,  the  more  I  like  ; 
and  is  a  most  admirable  poem,  and  bravely  acted  ;  only 
both  Betterton  and  Harris  could  not  contain  from  laugh- 
ing in  the  midst  of  a  most  serious  part,  from  the 
ridiculous  mistake  of  one  of  the  men  upon  the  stage  ; 
which  I  did  not  like. 

September  5,  1667. 

To  the  Duke  of  York's  house,  and  there  saw 
"  Heraclius,"  which  is  a  good  play ;  but  they  did  so 
spoil  it  with  their  laughing,  and  being  all  of  them  out, 
and  with  the  noise  they  made  within  the  theatre,  that  I 
was  ashamed  of  it,  and  resolved  not  to  come  thither  again 
a  good  while,  believing  that  this  negligence,  which  I 

176 


MR.   PEPYS   AT   THE   PLAY 


never  observed  before,  proceeds  only  from  their  want  of 
company  in  the  pit,  that  they  have  no  care  how  they  act. 

September  1 6,  1667. 

My  wife  and  Mercer  and  I  away  to  the  King's 
playhouse,  to  see  "  The  Scornful!  Lady  ; "  but  it  being 
now  three  o'clock  there  was  not  one  soul  in  the  pit ; 
whereupon,  for  shame,  we  could  not  go  in,  but,  against 
our  wills,  went  all  to  see  "  Tu  Quoque  "  again,  where 
there  was  pretty  store  of  company.  Here  we  saw 
Madam  Morland,  who  is  grown  mighty  fat,  but  is  very 
comely.  But  one  of  the  best  parts  of  our  sport  was  a 
mighty  pretty  lady  that  sat  behind  us,  that  did  laugh 
so  heartily  and  constantly,  that  it  did  me  good  to  hear 
her.  Thence  to  the  King's  house,  upon  a  wager  of 
mine  with  my  wife,  that  there  would  be  no  acting  there 
to-day,  there  being  no  company  :  so  I  went  in  and 
found  a  pretty  good  company  there,  and  saw  their 
dance  at  the  end  of  the  play. 

October  5,  1667. 

To  the  King's  house  :  and  there,  going  in,  met  with 
Knipp,  and  she  took  us  up  into  the  tireing-rooms :  and 
to  the  women's  shift,  where  Nell  was  dressing  herself, 
and  was  all  unready,  and  is  very  pretty,  prettier  than  I 
thought.  And  into  the  scene-room,  and  there  sat  down, 

O  f  -   -    f 

and  she  gave  us  fruit  :  and  here  I  read  the  questions  to 
Knipp,  while  she  answered  me,  through  all  her  part  of 
"  Flora  Figarys,"  which  was  acted  to  day.  But,  Lord  ! 
to  see  how  they  were  both  painted  would  make  a  man 

I77  N 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

mad,  and  did  make  me  loath  them  ;  and  what  base  com- 
pany of  men  comes  among  them,  and  how  lewdly  they 
talk  !  and  how  poor  the  men  are  in  clothes,  and  yet 
what  a  show  they  make  on  the  stage  by  candle-light,  is 
very  observable.  But  to  see  how  Nell  cursed,  for  having 
so  few  people  in  the  pit,  was  pretty  ;  the  other  house 
carrying  away  all  the  people  at  the  new  play,  and  is  said, 
now-a-days,  to  have  generally  most  company,  as  being 
better  players.  By  and  by  into  the  pit,  and  there  saw 
the  play,  which  is  pretty  good. 

October  15,  1667. 

My  wife,  and  I,  and  Willett  to  the  Duke  of  York's 
house,  where,  after  long  stay,  the  King  and  Duke  of 
York  come,  and  there  saw  "  The  Coffee-house,"  the 
most  ridiculous,  insipid  play  that  ever  I  saw  in  my  life, 
and  glad  we  were  that  Betterton  had  no  part  in  it.  But 
here,  before  the  play  begun,  my  wife  begun  to  complain 
to  me  of  Willett's  confidence  in  sitting  cheek  by  jowl 
by  us,  which  was  a  poor  thing  ;  but  I  perceive  she  is 
already  jealous  of  my  kindness  to  her,  so  that  I  begin  to 
fear  this  girl  is  not  likely  to  stay  long  with  us. 

October  19,  1667. 

Full  of  my  desire  of  seeing  my  Lord  Orrery's  new 
play  this  afternoon  at  the  King's  house,  "  The  Black 
Prince,"  the  first  time  it  is  acted  ;  where,  though  we  came 
by  two  o'clock,  yet  there  was  no  room  in  the  pit,  but  were 
forced  to  go  into  one  of  the  upper  boxes,  at  45.  a  piece, 
which  is  the  first  time  I  ever  sat  in  a  box  in  my  life. 

178 


MR.    PEPYS  AT  THE    PLAY 


And  in  the  same  box  came,  by  and  by,  behind  me,  my 
Lord  Barkeley  [of  Stratton]  and  his  lady,  but  I  did  not 
turn  my  face  to  them  to  be  known,  so  that  I  was 
excused  from  giving  them  my  seat ;  and  this  pleasure  I 
had,  that  from  this  place  the  scenes  do  appear  very  fine 
indeed,  and  much  better  than  in  the  pit.  The  house 
infinite  full,  and  the  King  and  Duke  of  York  there. 
By  and  by  the  play  begun,  and  in  it  nothing  particular 
but  a  very  fine  dance  for  variety  of  figures,  but  a  little 
too  long.  But,  as  to  the  contrivance,  and  all  that  was 
witty,  which,  indeed,  was  much,  and  very  witty,  was 
almost  the  same  that  had  been  in  his  two  former  plays  of 
"  Henry  the  $th  "  and  "  Mustapha,"  and  the  same  points 
and  turns  of  wit  in  both,  and  in  this  very  same  play  often 
repeated,  but  in  excellent  language,  and  were  so  excellent 
that  the  whole  house  was  mightily  pleased  all  along 
till  the  reading  of  a  letter,  which  was  so  long  and  so 
unnecessary  that  they  frequently  began  to  laugh,  and  to 
hiss  twenty  times,  that,  had  it  not  been  for  the  King's 
being  there,  they  had  certainly  hissed  it  off  the  stage. 
But  I  must  confess  that,  as  my  Lord  Barkeley  says  behind 
me,  the  having  of  that  long  letter  was  a  thing  so  absurd, 
that  he  could  not  imagine  how  a  man  of  his  parts  could 
possibly  fall  into  it ;  or,  if  he  did,  if  he  had  but  let  any 
friend  read  it,  the  friend  would  have  told  him  of  it ;  and, 
I  must  confess,  it  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  instances 
of  a  wise  man's  not  being  wise  at  all  times.  After  the 
play  done,  and  nothing  pleasing  them  from  the  time  of 
the  letter  to  the  end  of  the  play,  people  being  put  into  a 
bad  humour  of  disliking,  which  is  another  thing  worth 

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the  noting,  I  home  by  coach,  and  could  not  forbear 
laughing  almost  all  the  way,  and  all  the  evening  to  my 
going  to  bed,  at  the  ridiculousness  of  the  letter,  and  the 
more  because  my  wife  was  angry  with  me,  and  the  world, 
for  laughing,  because  the  King  was  there. 

October  23,  1667. 

To  the  King's  playhouse,  and  saw  "The  Black 
Prince  : "  which  is  now  mightily  bettered  by  that  long 
letter  being  printed,  and  so  delivered  to  everybody  at 
their  going  in,  and  some  short  reference  made  to  it  in 
the  play  ;  but,  when  all  is  done,  I  think  it  the  worst 
play  of  my  Lord  Orrery's.  But  here,  to  my  great  satis- 
faction, I  did  see  my  Lord  Hinchingbroke  and  his 
mistress,  with  her  father  and  mother  ;  and  I  am  mightily 
pleased  with  the  young  lady,  being  handsome  enough — 
and,  indeed,  to  my  great  liking,  as  I  would  have  her. 

November  I,  1667. 

To  the  King's  playhouse,  and  there  saw  a  silly  play 
and  an  old  one,  "  The  Taming  of  a  Shrew." 

November  2,  1667. 

To  the  King's  playhouse,  and  there  saw  "  Henry  the 
Fourth  :  "  and  contrary  to  expectation,  was  pleased  in 
nothing  more  than  in  Cartwright's  speaking  of  Falstaffe's 
speech  about  "  What  is  Honour  ?  "  The  house  full  of 
Parliament-men,  it  being  holyday  with  them  :  and  it  was 
observable  how  a  gentleman  of  good  habit,  sitting  just 
before  us,  eating  of  some  fruit  in  the  midst  of  the  play, 

1 80 


MR.    PEPYS   AT  THE    PLAY 


did  drop  down  as  dead,  being  choked ;  but  with  much 
ado  Orange  Moll  did  thrust  her  finger  down  his  throat, 
and  brought  him  to  life  again. 

November  7,  1667. 

At  noon  resolved  with  Sir  W.  Pen  to  go  to  see 
"  The  Tempest,"  an  old  play  of  Shakespeare's,  acted, 
I  hear,  the  first  day ;  and  so  my  wife,  and  girl,  and 
W.  Hewer  by  themselves,  and  Sir  W.  Pen  and  I  after- 
wards by  ourselves :  and  forced  to  sit  in  the  side 
balcone  over  against  the  musique-room  at  the  Duke's 
house,  close  by  my  Lady  Dorset  and  a  great  many 
great  ones.  The  house  mighty  full ;  the  King  and 
Court  there  :  and  the  most  innocent  play  that  ever  I 
saw  ;  and  a  curious  piece  of  musick  *  in  an  echo  of  half 
sentences,  the  echo  repeating  the  former  half,  while 
the  man  goes  on  to  the  latter ;  which  is  mighty  pretty. 
The  play  has  no  great  wit,  but  yet  good,  above  ordinary 
plays. 

November  13,  1667. 

To  the  Duke  of  York's  house,  and  there  saw  the 
Tempest  again,  which  is  very  pleasant,  and  full  of  so 
good  variety,  that  I  cannot  be  more  pleased  almost  in 
a  comedy,  only  the  seaman's  part  a  little  too  tedious. 
To  my  chamber,  and  do  begin  anew  to  bind  myself 
to  keep  my  old  vows,  and  among  the  rest  not  to  see  a 

1  Evidently  the  song  sung  by  Ferdinand,  wherein  Ariel  echoes,  "  Go  thy 
way,"  from  Davenant's  and  Dryden's  adaptation.  The  music  was  by 
Banister. 

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play  till  Christmas  but  once  in  every  other   week,  and 
have  laid  aside  j£io,  which  is  to  be  lost  to  the  poor,  if  I  do. 

December  28,  1667. 

To  the  King's  house,  and  there  saw  "The  Mad 
Couple  ; "  which  is  but  an  ordinary  play  ;  but  only 
Nell's  and  Hart's  mad  parts  are  most  excellent  done,  but 
especially  her's  :  which  makes  it  a  miracle  to  me  to 
think  how  ill  she  do  any  serious  part,  as,  the  other  day, 
just  like  a  fool  or  changeling  ;  and,  in  a  mad  part,  do 
beyond  imitation  almost.  It  pleased  us  mightily  to  see 
the  natural  affection  of  a  poor  woman,  the  mother  of 
one  of  the  children  brought  on  the  stage  :  the  child 
crying,  she  by  force  got  upon  the  stage,  and  took  up 
her  child  and  carried  it  away  off  of  the  stage  from  Hart. 

March  26,  1668. 

To  the  Duke  of  York's  house,  to  see  the  new  play, 
called  "  The  Man  is  the  Master,"  where  the  house  was, 
it  being  not  one  o'clock,  very  full.  But  my  wife  and 
Deb.  being  there  before,  with  Mrs.  Pierce  and  Corbet 
and  Betty  Turner,  whom  my  wife  carried  with  her,  they 
made  me  room  ;  and  there  I  sat,  it  costing  me  8s.  upon 
them  in  oranges,  at  6d.  a-piece.  By  and  by  the  King 
came  ;  and  we  sat  just  under  him,  so  that  I  durst  not 
turn  my  back  all  the  play.  The  play  is  a  translation 
out  of  French,  and  the  plot  Spanish,  but  not  anything 
extraordinary  at  all  in  it,  though  translated  by  Sir  W. 
Davenant,  and  so  I  found  the  King  and  his  company 
did  think  meanly  of  it,  though  there  was  here  and  there 

182 


MR.    PEPYS  AT   THE    PLAY 


something  pretty  :  but  the  most  of  the  mirth  was  sorry, 
poor  stuffe,  of  eating  of  sack  posset  and  slabbering  them- 
selves, and  mirth  fit  for  clownes ;  the  prologue  but  poor, 
and  the  epilogue  little  in  it  but  the  extraordinariness  of 
it,  it  being  sung  by  Harris  and  another  in  the  form  of 
a  ballad.  Thence,  by  agreement,  we  all  of  us  to  the 
Blue  Balls,  hard  by,  whither  Mr.  Pierce  also  goes  with 
us,  who  met  us  at  the  play,  and  anon  comes  Manuel, 
and  his  wife,  and  Knipp,  and  Harris,  who  brings  with 
him  Mr.  Banister,  the  great  master  of  musick  ;  and 
after  much  difficulty  in  getting  of  musick,  we  to  danc- 
ing, and  then  to  a  supper  of  French  dishes,  which  yet 
did  not  please  me,  and  then  to  dance  and  sing  ;  and 
mighty  merry  we  were  till  about  eleven  or  twelve  at 
night,  with  mighty  great  content  in  all  my  company, 
and  I  did,  as  I  love  to  do,  enjoy  myself. 

May  7,  1668. 

To  the  Duke  of  York's  house,  and  there  saw  "The 
Man's  the  Master,"  which  proves,  upon  my  seeing  it 
again,  a  very  good  play.  To  the  King's  house,  where, 
going  in  for  Knipp,  the  play  being  done,  I  did  see  Beck 
Marshall  come  dressed,  off  of  the  stage,  and  look  mighty 
fine,  and  pretty,  and  noble  :  and  also  Nell,  in  her  boy's 
clothes,  mighty  pretty.  But,  Lord  !  their  confidence  ! 
and  how  many  men  do  hover  about  them  as  soon  as  they 
come  off  the  stage,  and  how  confident  they  are  in  their 
talk  !  Here  I  did  kiss  the  pretty  woman  newly  come, 
called  Pegg,  that  was  Sir  Charles  Sedley's  mistress,  a 
mighty  pretty  woman,  and  seems,  but  is  not,  modest. 

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RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF  SAMUEL   PEPYS 

Here  took  up  Knipp  into  our  coach,  and  all  of  us  with 
her  to  her  lodgings,  and  thither  comes  Bannister  with  a 
song  of  her's,  that  he  hath  set  in  Sir  Charles  Sedley's 
play  for  her,  which  is,  I  think,  but  very  meanly  set ;  but 
this  he  did,  before  us,  teach  her,  and  it  being  but  a 
slight,  silly,  short  ayre,  she  learnt  it  presently.  But  I 
did  get  him  to  prick  me  down  the  notes  of  the  Echo, 
in  "  The  Tempest,"  which  pleases  me  mightily.  Here 
was  also  Haynes,  the  incomparable  dancer  of  the  King's 
house.  Then  we  abroad  to  Marrowbone,  and  there 
walked  in  the  garden,  the  first  time  I  ever  was  there ; 
and  a  pretty  place  it  is. 

July  n,  1668. 

To  the  King's  playhouse,  to  see  an  old  play  of 
Shirly's,  called  "  Hide  Parke ; "  the  first  day  acted  ; 
where  horses  are  brought  upon  the  stage  :  but  it  is 
but  a  very  moderate  play,  only  an  excellent  epilogue 
spoke  by  Beck  Marshall. 


184 


MR.   PEPYS'S   RELATIVES 


MR.   PEPYS'S   RELATIVES 

July  6,  1661. 

Waked  this  morning  with  news,  brought  me  by  a 
messenger  on  purpose,  that  my  uncle  Robert  is  dead  ; 
so  I  rose  sorry  in  some  respect,  glad  in  my  expectations 
in  another  respect :  so  I  bought  me  a  pair  of  boots  in 
St.  Martin's,  and  got  myself  ready,  and  then  to  the 
Post-house,  and  set  out  about  eleven  and  twelve  o'clock, 
taking  the  messenger  with  me  that  come  to  me,  and  so 
we  rode,  and  got  well  by  nine  o'clock  to  Brampton, 
where  I  found  my  father  well.  My  uncle's  corps  in  a 
coffin  standing  upon  joynt-stooles  in  the  chimney  in 
the  hall  ;  but  it  begun  to  smell,  and  so  I  caused  it  to 
be  set  forth  in  the  yard  all  night,  and  watched  by  my 
aunt.  My  father  and  I  lay  together  to-night,  I  greedy 
to  see  the  will,  but  did  not  aske  to  see  it  till  to-morrow. 

July  7,  1 66 1. 

(Lord's  day.)  In  the  morning,  my  father  and  I  read 
the  will ;  where,  though  he  gives  me  nothing  at  present 
till  my  father's  death,  or  at  least  very  little,  yet  I  am 
glad  to  see  that  he  hath  done  so  well  for  us  all,  and  well 
to  the  rest  of  his  kindred.  After  that  done,  we  went 

185 


RED-LETTER   DAYS  OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

about  getting  things,  as  ribbands  and  gloves,  ready  for 
the  burial,  which  in  the  afternoon  was  done  ;  where,  it 
being  Sunday,  all  people  far  and  near  come  in  ;  and,  in 
the  greatest  disorder  that  ever  I  saw,  we  made  shift  to 
serve  them  with  what  we  had  of  wine  and  other  things  ; 
and  then  to  carry  him  to  the  church,  where  Mr.  Taylor 
buried  him,  and  Mr.  Turner  preached  a  funeral  sermon, 
where  he  spoke  not  particularly  of  him  anything,  but 
that  he  was  one  so  well  known  for  his  honesty,  that  it 
spoke  for  itself  above  all  that  he  could  say  for  it.  And 
so  made  a  very  good  sermon. 

July  8,  9,  10,  II,  12,  and  13,  1661. 

I  fell  to  work,  and  my  father  to  look  over  my  uncle's 
papers  and  clothes,  and  continued  all  this  week  upon 
that  business,  much  troubled  with  my  aunt's  base,  ugly 
humours.  We  had  news  of  Tom  Trice  putting  in  a 
caveat  against  us,  in  behalf  of  his  mother,  to  whom  my 
uncle  had  not  given  anything,  and  for  good  reason 
therein  expressed,  which  troubled  us  also.  But  above 
all,  our  trouble  is  to  find  that  his  estate  appears  nothing 
as  we  expected,  and  all  the  world  believes  ;  nor  his 
papers  so  well  sorted  as  I  would  have  had  them,  but  all 
in  confusion,  that  breaks  my  brains  to  understand  them. 
We  missed  also  the  surrenders  of  his  copyhold  land, 
without  which  the  land  would  not  come  to  us,  but  to 
the  heire  at  lawe,  so  that  what  with  this,  and  the  bad- 
ness of  the  drink,  and  the  ill  opinion  I  have  of  the  meat, 
and  the  biting  of  the  gnats  by  night,  and  my  disappoint- 
ment in  getting  home  this  week,  and  the  trouble  of 

186 


MR.  PEPYS'S  RELATIVES 


sorting  all  the  papers,  I  am  almost  out  of  my  wits  with 
trouble,  only  I  appear  the  more  contented,  because  I 
would  not  have  my  father  troubled. 

January  23,  1661-62. 

By  invitacon  to  my  uncle  Fenner's,  where  I  found 
his  new  wife,  a  pitiful,  old,  ugly,  ill-bred  woman,  in  a 
hatt,  a  mid-wife.  Here  were  many  of  his,  and  as  many 
of  her  relations,  sorry,  mean  people  ;  and  after  choosing 
our  gloves,  we  all  went  over  to  the  Three  Crane 
taverne,  and,  though  the  best  room  of  the  house,  in 
such  a  narrow  dogg-hole  we  were  crammed,  and  I 
believe  we  were  near  forty,  that  it  made  me  loath  my 
company  and  victuals  ;  and  a  sorry,  poor  dinner  it  was 
too.  After  dinner,  I  took  aside  the  two  Joyces,  to  thank 
them  for  their  kind  thoughts  for  a  wife  for  Tom ;  but 
that,  considering  the  possibility  there  is  of  my  having 
no  child,  and  what  then  I  shall  be  able  to  leave  him,  I 
do  think  he  may  expect  in  that  respect  a  wife  with 
more  money,  and  so  desired  them  to  think  no  more 
of  it. 

October  1 1,  1662. 

Up  betimes,  and  after  a  little  breakfast,  and  a  very 
poor  one,  like  our  supper,  and  such  as  I  cannot  feed  on, 
because  of  my  she-cozen  Claxton's  gouty  hands  j  and 
after  Roger  had  carried  me  up  and  down  his  house  and 
orchards,  to  show  me  them,  I  mounted,  and  rode  to 
Huntingdon,  and  so  to  Brampton,  where  I  found  my 
father  and  two  brothers,  my  mother  and  sister.  I 

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RED-LETTER    DAYS  OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

walked  up  and  down  the  house    and   garden,  and  find 
my  father's  alteracions  very  handsome. 

January  4,  1662-63. 

(Lord's  day.)  Up  and  to  church,  where  a  lazy 
sermon.  My  wife  did  propound  my  having  of  my 
sister  Pall  again  to  be  her  woman,  since  one  we  must 
have,  it  being  a  very  great  trouble  to  me  that  I  should 
have  a  sister  of  so  ill  a  nature,  that  I  must  be  forced 
to  spend  money  upon  a  stranger,  when  it  might  better 
be  upon  her,  if  she  were  good  for  anything. 

May  i,  1663. 

After  dinner,  I  got  my  father,  brother  Tom,  and 
myself  together,  and  I  advised  my  father  to  good 
husbandry,  and  to  be  living  within  the  compass  of 
^50  a  year,  and  all  in  such  kind  words,  as  not  only 
made  both  them  but  myself  to  weep. 

September  14,  1663. 

By  coach  to  Bishop's  Gate  Street,  it  being  a  very 
promising  fair  day.  There  at  the  Dolphin  we  met 
my  uncle  Thomas,  and  his  son-in-law,  which  seems  a 
very  sober  man,  and  Mr.  Moore  :  so  Mr.  Moore  and 
my  wife  set  out  before,  and  my  uncle  and  I  staid  for 
his  son  Thomas,  who,  by  a  sudden  resolution,  is  pre- 
paring to  go  with  us,  which  makes  me  fear  something 
of  mischief  which  they  design  to  do  us.  He  staying 
a  great  while,  the  old  man  and  I  before,  and  about  eight 
miles  off,  his  son  comes  after  us,  and  about  six  miles 

188 


MR.   PEPYS'S   RELATIVES 


further,  we  overtake  Mr.  Moore  and  my  wife,  which 
makes  me  mightily  consider  what  a  great  deal  of  ground 
is  lost  in  a  little  time,  when  it  is  to  be  got  up  again  by 
another,  who  is  to  go  his  own  ground  and  the  others 
too,  and  so,  after  a  little  bayte,  I  paying  all  the  reckon- 
ings the  whole  journey,  at  Ware,  to  Buntingford,  where 
my  wife,  by  drinking  some  cold  beer,  being  hot  herself, 
presently  after  'lighting,  begins  to  be  sick,  and  become 
so  pale,  and  I  alone  with  her  in  a  great  chamber  there, 
that  I  thought  she  would  have  died,  and  so  in  great 
horror,  and  having  a  great  trial  of  my  true  love  and 
passion  for  her,  called  the  maids  and  mistress  of  the 
house,  and  so  with  some  strong  water,  she  come  to 
be  pretty  well  again  ;  and  so  to  bed,  and  I  having 
put  her  to  bed  with  great  content,  I  called  in  my 
company,  and  supped  in  the  chamber  by  her,  and 
being  very  merry  in  talk,  supped  and  then  parted. 
This  day  my  cozen  Thomas  dropped  his  hanger,  and 
it  was  lost. 

September  17,  1663. 

I  was  forced  to  come  to  a  new  consideration,  whether 
it  was  fit  to  let  my  uncle  and  his  son  go  to  Wisbeach 
about  my  uncle  Day's  estate  alone  or  no,  and  concluded 
it  unfit  ;  and  so,  leaving  my  wife,  I  begun  a  journey 
with  them,  and  with  much  ado  through  the  fenns, 
along  dikes,  where  sometimes  we  were  ready  to  have 
our  horses  sink  to  the  belly,  we  got  by  night,  with  a 
great  deal  of  stir,  and  hard  riding,  to  Parson's  Drove, 
a  heathen  place,  where  I  found  my  uncle  and  aunt 

189 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

Perkins,  and  their  daughters,  poor  wretches !  in  a  sad, 
poor  thatched  cottage,  like  a  poor  barne,  or  stable, 
peeling  of  hemp,  in  which  I  did  give  myself  good 
content  to  see  their  manner  of  preparing  of  hemp  ;  and 
in  a  poor  condition  of  habitt  took  them  to  our  miserable 
inne,  and  there,  after  long  stay,  and  hearing  of  Frank, 
their  son,  the  miller,  play  upon  his  treble,  as  he  calls  it, 
with  which  he  earnes  part  of  his  living,  and  singing  of 
a  country  song,  we  set  down  to  supper  ;  the  whole 
crew,  and  Spankes's  wife  and  child,  a  sad  company,  of 
which  I  was  ashamed,  supped  with  us.  By  and  by, 
newes  is  brought  to  us,  that  one  of  our  horses  is  stole 
out  of  the  stable,  which  proves  my  uncle's,  at  which  I 
am  inwardly  glad — I  mean,  that  it  was  not  mine ;  and 
at  this  we  were  at  a  great  loss ;  and  they  doubting  a 
person  that  lay  at  next  door,  a  Londoner,  some  lawyer's 
clerk,  we  caused  him  to  be  secured  in  his  bed,  and  other 
care  to  be  taken  to  seize  the  house  ;  and  so,  about 
twelve  at  night  or  more,  to  bed,  in  a  sad,  cold,  stony 
chamber;  and  a  little  after  I  was  asleep,  they  waked 
me,  to  tell  me  that  the  horse  was  found,  which  was 
good  news,  and  so  to  sleep,  but  was  bit  cruelly,  and 
nobody  else  of  our  company,  which  I  wonder  at,  by 
the  gnatts. 

September  18,  1663. 

Up,  and  got  our  people  together ;  and  after  eating  a 
dishe  of  cold  creame,  which  was  my  supper  last  night 
too,  we  took  leave  of  our  beggarly  company,  though 
they  seem  good  people,  too  ;  and  over  most  sad  fenns, 

190 


MR.    PEPYS'S   RELATIVES 


all  the  way  observing  the  sad  life  which  the  people  of 
the  place — which,  if  they  be  born  there,  they  do  call 
the  Breedlings  of  the  place — do  live,  sometimes  rowing 
from  one  spot  to  another,  and  then  wadeing.  To 
Wisbeach,  a  pretty  town,  and  a  fine  church  and  library, 
where  sundry  very  old  abbey  manuscripts  ;  and  a  fine 
house,  built  on  the  church  ground,  by  Secretary  Thur- 
low,  and  a  fine  gallery  built  for  him  in  the  church,  but 
now  all  in  the  Bishop  of  Ely's  hands.  After  visiting 
the  church,  &c.,  we  out  of  the  town,  by  the  help  of  a 
stranger,  to  find  out  one  Blinkehorne,  a  miller,  of  whom 
we  might  inquire  something  of  old  Day's  disposal  of  his 
estate,  and  in  whose  hands  it  now  is  j  and  by  great 
chance  we  met  him,  and  brought  him  to  our  inne  to 
dinner  ;  and  instead  of  being  informed  in  his  estate  by 
this  fellow,  we  find  that  he  is  the  next  heire  to  the 
estate,  which  was  matter  of  great  sport  to  my  cozen 
Thomas  and  me,  to  see  such  a  fellow  prevent  us  in  our 
hopes — he  being  Day's  brother's  daughter's  son,  whereas 
we  are  but  his  sister's  sons  and  grandsons  :  so  that,  after 
all,  we  were  fain  to  propose  our  matter  to  him,  and  to 
get  him  to  give  us  leave  to  look  after  the  business,  and  so 
he  to  have  one-third  part,  and  we  two  to  have  the  other 
two-third  parts,  of  what  should  be  recovered  of  the 
estate,  which  he  consented  to  ;  and,  after  paying 
the  reckoning,  we  mounted  again,  and  rode,  being 
very  merry  at  our  defeate,  to  Chatteris — my  uncle 
very  weary,  and  after  supper,  and  my  telling  of  three 
stories  to  their  good  liking  of  spirits,  we  all  three  in 
a  chamber  went  to  bed. 

191 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

September  19,  1663. 

Up  pretty  betimes  ;  and  I  to  Brampton,  where  I  find 
my  father  ill  in  bed  still,  and  Madam  Norbery,  whom 
and  her  fair  daughter  and  sister  I  was  ashamed  to  kiss, 
but  did — my  lip  being  sore  with  riding  in  the  winde, 
and  bit  with  the  gnats  ;  and  they  being  gone,  I  told 
my  father  my  successe.  My  wife  and  I  took  horse,  and 
rode  with  marvellous,  and  the  first  and  only  hour  of, 
pleasure  that  ever  I  had  in  this  estate,  since  I  had  to  do 
with  it,  to  Brampton  woods ;  and  through  the  wood 
rode,  and  gathered  nuts  in  my  way,  and  then  at  Graffan, 
to  an  old  woman's  house,  to  drink,  where  my  wife  used 
to  go  ;  and  being  in  all  circumstances  highly  pleased,  and 
in  my  wife's  riding  and  good  company  at  this  time,  I 
rode,  and  she  showed  me  the  river  behind  my  father's 
house,  which  is  very  pleasant ;  and  so  saw  her  home, 
and  I  straight  to  Huntingdon  ;  and  there  a  barber  come 
and  trimmed  me,  and  thence  walked  to  Hinchingbroke, 
where  my  Lord  and  ladies  all  are  just  alighted. 

March  1 8,  1664. 

To  church,1  and,  with  the  gravemaker,  chose  a  place 
for  my  brother  to  lie  in,  just  under  my  mother's  pew. 
But  to  see  how  a  man's  tombes  are  at  the  mercy  of 
such  a  fellow,  that  for  sixpence  he  would,  as  his  own 
words  were,  "I  will  justle  them  together  but  I  will 
make  room  for  him  ;  "  speaking  of  the  fulness  of  the 
middle  aisle,  where  he  was  to  lie  ;  and  that  he  would, 
for  my  father's  sake,  do  my  brother,  that  is  dead,  all  the 

1  Pepys's  brother  Thomas  had  died  three  days  before. — E.  F.  A. 
192 


MR.   PEPYS'S   RELATIVES 


civility  he  can  ;  which  was  to  disturb  other  corps  that 
are  not  quite  rotten,  to  make  room  for  him  ;  and  me- 
thought  his  manner  of  speaking  it  was  very  remarkable  ; 
as  of  a  thing  that  now  was  in  his  power  to  do  a  man  a 
courtesy  or  not.  I  dressed  myself,  and  so  did  my 
servant  Besse  ;  and  so  to  my  brother's  again  :  whither, 
though  invited,  as  the  custom  is,  at  one  or  two  o'clock, 
they  come  not  till  four  or  five.  But,  at  last,  one  after 
another,  they  come,  many  more  than  I  bid  :  and  my 
reckoning  that  I  bid  was  one  hundred  and  twenty  ;  but 
I  believe  there  was  nearer  one  hundred  and  fifty.  Their 
service  was  six  biscuits  a-piece,  and  what  they  pleased  of 
burnt  claret.  My  cozen  Joyce  Norton  kept  the  wine 
and  cakes  above  ;  and  did  give  out  to  them  that  served, 
who  had  white  gloves  given  them.  But,  above  all,  I 
am  beholden  to  Mrs.  Holden,  who  was  most  kind,  and 
did  take  mighty  pains  not  only  in  getting  the  house  and 
every  thing  else  ready,  but  this  day  in  going  up  and  down 
to  see  the  house  filled  and  served,  in  order  to  mine  and 
their  great  content,  I  think  :  the  men  sitting  by  them- 
selves in  some  rooms,  and  the  women  by  themselves  in 
others,  very  close,  but  yet  room  enough.  Anon  to 
church,  walking  out  into  the  street  to  the  conduit,  and 
so  across  the  street ;  and  had  a  very  good  company  along 
with  the  corps.  And,  being  come  to  the  grave  as  above, 
Dr.  Pierson,  the  minister  of  the  parish,  did  read  the 
service  for  buriall  :  and  so  I  saw  my  poor  brother  laid 
into  the  grave :  and  so  all  broke  up  ;  and  I  and  my 
wife,  and  Madam  Turner  and  her  family,  to  her 
brother's,  and  by  and  by  fell  to  a  barrell  of  oysters, 

193  o 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

cake,  and  cheese,  of  Mr.  Honiwood's,  with  him,  in 
his  chamber  and  below,  being  too  merry  for  so  late  a 
sad  work.  But,  Lord  !  to  see  how  the  world  makes 
nothing  of  the  memory  of  a  man,  an  hour  after  he  is 
dead  !  And,  indeed,  I  must  blame  myself ;  for,  though 
at  the  sight  of  him  dead  and  dying,  I  had  real  grief  for  a 
while,  while  he  was  in  my  sight,  yet  presently  after,  and 
ever  since,  I  have  had  very  little  grief  indeed  for  him. 

June  13,  1666. 

With  Baity  to  Hales's1  by  coach.  Here  I  find  my 
father's  picture  begun,  and  so  much  to  my  content,  that 
it  joys  my  very  heart  to  think  that  I  should  have  his 
picture  so  well  done  ;  who,  besides  that  he  is  my  father, 
and  a  man  that  loves  me,  and  hath  ever  done  so,  is  also, 
at  this  day,  one  of  the  most  careful  and  innocent  men 
in  the  world. 

October  17,  1666. 

To  dinner  alone  with  my  brother,  with  whom  I 
had  now  the  first  private  talk  I  have  had,  and  find  he 
hath  preached  but  twice  in  his  life.  I  did  give  him  some 
advice  to  study  pronunciation,  but  I  do  fear  he  will 
never  make  a  good  speaker,  nor,  I  fear,  any  general 
good  scholar  ;  for  I  do  not  see  that  he  minds  optickes 
or  mathematiques  of  any  sort,  nor  anything  else  that  I 
can  find.  I  know  not  what  he  may  be  at  divinity  and 
ordinary  school-learning.  However,  he  seems  sober, 
and  that  pleases  me. 

1  A  prominent  portrait-painter  of  that  time. — E.  F.  A. 
194 


MR.  PEPYS'S   RELATIVES 


March  27,  1667. 

Received  from  my  brother  the  news  of  my  mother's 
dying  on  Monday,  about  five  or  six  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and  that  the  last  time  she  spoke  of  her  children 
was  on  Friday  last,  and  her  last  words  were,  "  God  bless 
my  poor  Sam  ! "  The  reading  hereof  did  set  me 
a-weeping  heartily.  Found  it  necessary  to  go  abroad 
with  my  wife  to  look  after  the  providing  mourning  to 
send  into  the  country — some  to-morrow,  and  more 
against  Sunday,  for  my  family,  being  resolved  to  put 
myself  and  wife,  and  Barker  and  Jane,  W.  Hewer  and 
Tom,  in  mourning,  and  my  two  under-maids,  to  give 
them  hoods  and  scarfs  and  gloves.  So  to  my  tailor's, 
and  up  and  down,  and  then  home,  and  to  bed,  my 
heart  sad,  though  my  judgment  at  case. 

April  13,  1667. 

Wrote  to  my  father,  who,  I  am  glad  to  hear,  is  at 
some  ease  again,  and  I  long  to  have  him  in  town,  that 
I  may  see  what  can  be  done  for  him  here ;  for  I  would 
fain  do  all  I  can,  that  I  may  have  him  live,  and  take 
pleasure  in  my  doing  well  in  the  world. 

October  10,  1667. 

Up,  to  walk  up  and  down  in  the  garden  with  my 
father,  to  talk  of  all  our  concernments  :  about  a  husband 
for  my  sister,  whereof  there  is  at  present  no  appearance  ; 
but  we  must  endeavour  to  find  her  one  now,  for  she 
grows  old  and  ugly  :  then  for  my  brother ;  and  resolve 
he  shall  stay  here  this  winter,  and  then  I  will  either  send 

195 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

him  to  Cambridge  for  a  year,  till  I  get  him  some  church 
promotion,  or  send  him  to  sea  as  a  chaplain,  where  he 
may  study,  and  earn  his  living. 

December  5,  1667. 

This  day,  not  for  want,  but  for  good  husbandry,  I 
sent  my  father,  by  his  desire,  six  pair  of  my  old  shoes, 
which  fit  him,  and  are  good  ;  yet,  methought,  it  was  a 
thing  against  my  mind  to  have  him  wear  my  old  things. 

March  2,  1668. 

This  day  I  have  the  news  that  my  sister  was  married 
on  Thursday  last  to  Mr.  Jackson  j  so  that  work  is,  I 
hope,  well  over. 


196 


MR.    PEPYS   ON   RELIGION 


MR.   PEPYS  ON   RELIGION 

November  9,  1663. 

Mr.  Blackburne  T  and  I  fell  to  talk  of  many  things, 
wherein  he  was  very  open  to  me :  first,  in  that  of  religion, 
he  makes  it  greater  matter  of  prudence  for  the  King  and 
Council  to  suffer  liberty  of  conscience  ;  and  imputes  the 
loss  of  Hungary  to  the  Turke  from  the  Emperor's  deny- 
ing them  this  liberty  of  their  religion.  He  says  that 
many  pious  ministers  of  the  word  of  God,  some  thousands 
of  them,  do  now  beg  their  bread  ;  and  told  me  how 
highly  the  present  clergy  carry  themselves  everywhere, 
so  as  that  they  are  hated  and  laughed  at  by  everybody  ; 
among  other  things,  for  their  excommunications,  which 
they  send  upon  the  least  occasions  almost  that  can  be. 
And  I  am  convinced  in  my  judgment,  not  only  from  his 
discourse,  but  my  thoughts  in  general,  that  the  present 
clergy  will  never  heartily  go  down  with  the  generality 
of  the  commons  of  England  ;  they  have  been  so  used  to 
liberty  and  freedom,  and  they  are  so  acquainted  with  the 
pride  and  debauchery  of  the  present  clergy.  He  did  give 
me  many  stories  of  the  affronts  which  the  clergy  receive 

1  A  stanch  Puritan. 
I97 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

in  all  places  of  England  from  the  gentry  and  ordinary 
persons  of  the  parish.  He  do  tell  me  what  the  City 
thinks  of  General  Monk,  as  of  a  most  perfidious  man 
that  hath  betrayed  every  body,  and  the  King  also  ;  who, 
as  he  thinks,  and  his  party,  and  so  I  have  heard  other 
good  friends  of  the  King  say,  it  might  have  been  better 
for  the  King  to  have  had  his  hands  a  little  bound  for  the 
present,  than  be  forced  to  bring  such  a  crew  of  poor 
people  about  him,  and  be  liable  to  satisfy  the  demands  of 
every  one  of  them.  He  told  me  that,  to  his  knowledge, 
being  present  at  every  meeting  at  the  Treaty  at  the  Isle 
of  Wight,  that  the  old  King  did  confess  himself  overruled 
and  convinced  in  his  judgement  against  the  Bishopps, 
and  would  have  suffered  and  did  agree  to  exclude  the 
service  out  of  the  churches,  nay,  his  own  chapell  ;  and 
that  he  did  always  say,  that  this  he  did  not  by  force,  for 
that  he  would  never  abate  one  inch  of  any  violence ;  but 
what  he  did  was  out  of  his  reason  and  judgement.  He 
tells  me  that  the  King  by  name,  with  all  his  dignities, 
is  prayed  for  by  them  that  they  call  Fanatiques,  as  heartily 
and  powerfully  as  in  any  of  the  other  churches  that  are 
thought  better  :  and  that,  let  the  King  think  what  he 
will,  it  is  them  that  must  help  him  in  the  day  of  warr. 
For  so  generally  they  are  the  most  substantiall  sort  of 
people,  and  the  soberest  ;  and  did  desire  me  to  observe 
it  to  my  Lord  Sandwich,  among  other  things,  that  of  all 
the  old  army  now  you  cannot  see  a  man  begging  about 
the  streets ;  but  what  ?  You  shall  have  this  captain 
turned  a  shoemaker ;  the  lieutenant,  a  baker ;  this  a 
brewer  ;  that  a  haberdasher  ;  this  common  soldier,  a 

198 


MR.    PEPYS   ON   RELIGION 


porter ;  and  every  man  in  his  apron  and  frock,  &c.,  as 
if  they  never  had  done  anything  else  :  whereas,  the 
others  go  with  their  belts  and  swords,  swearing,  and 
cursing,  and  stealing  ;  running  into  people's  houses,  by 
force  oftentimes,  to  carry  away  something  ;  and  this  is 
the  difference  between  the  temper  of  one  and  the  other  ; 
and  concludes,  and  I  think  with  some  reason,  that  the 
spirits  of  the  old  parliament  soldiers  are  so  quiet  and  con- 
tented with  God's  providences,  that  the  King  is  safer 
from  any  evil  meant  him  by  them  one  thousand  times 
more  than  from  his  own  discontented  Cavalier.  And 
then  to  the  publick  management  of  business  :  it  is  done, 
as  he  observes,  so  loosely  and  so  carelessly,  that  the  king- 
dom can  never  be  happy  with  it,  every  man  looking  after 
himself,  and  his  own  lust  and  luxury  ;  and  that  half  of 
what  money  the  Parliament  gives  the  King  is  not  so 
much  as  gathered.  And  to  the  purpose,  he  told  me  how 
the  Bellamys,  who  had  some  of  the  Northern  counties 
assigned  them  for  their  debt  for  the  petty  warrant 
victualling,  have  often  complained  to  him  that  they 
cannot  get  it  collected,  for  that  nobody  minds,  or,  if 
they  do,  they  won't  pay  it  in.  Whereas,  which  is  a 
very  remarkable  thing,  he  hath  been  told  by  some  of  the 
Treasurers  at  Warr  here  of  late,  to  whom  the  most  of 
the  ^120,000  monthly  was  paid,  that  for  most  months 
the  payments  were  gathered  so  duly,  that  they  seldom 
had  so  much  or  more  than  405.,  or  the  like,  short  in  the 
whole  collection  ;  whereas,  now  the  very  Commissioners 
for  Assessments  and  other  publick  payments  are  such 
persons,  and  those  that  they  choose  in  the  country  so 

199 


RED-LETTER   DAYS  OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

like  themselves,  that  from  top  to  bottom  there  is  not  a 
man  carefull  of  any  thing,  or,  if  he  be,  is  not  solvent ; 
that  what  between  the  beggar  and  the  knave,  the  King 
is  abused  the  best  part  of  all  his  revenue.  We  then 
talked  of  the  Navy,  and  of  Sir  W.  Pen's  rise  to  be  a 
general.  He  told  me  he  was  always  a  conceited  man, 
and  one  that  would  put  the  best  side  outward,  but  that 
it  was  his  pretence  of  sanctity  that  brought  him  into  play. 
Lawson,  and  Portman,  and  the  fifth-monarchy  men, 
among  whom  he  was  a  great  brother,  importuned  that 
he  might  be  General  ;  and  it  was  pleasant  to  see  how, 
Blackburne  himself  did  act  it  j  how,  when  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Admiralty  would  enquire  of  the  captains 
and  admirals  of  such  and  such  men,  how  they  would, 
with  a  sigh  and  casting  up  the  eyes,  say,  "  such  a  man 
fears  the  Lord,"  or,  "  I  hope  such  a  man  hath  the  Spirit 
of  God."  But  he  tells  me,  that  there  was  a  cruel  article 
against  Pen,  after  one  fight,  for  cowardice,  in  putting 
himself  within  a  coyle  of  cables,  of  which  he  had  much 
ado  to  acquit  himself:  and  by  great  friends  did  it,  not 
without  remains  of  guilt,  but  that  his  brethren  had  a 
mind  to  pass  it  by,  and  Sir  H.  Vane  did  advise  him  to 
search  his  heart,  and  see  whether  this  fault  or  a  greater 
sin  was  not  the  occasion  of  this  so  great  tryall.  And  he 
tells  me,  that  what  Pen  gives  out  about  Cromwell's  send- 
ing and  entreating  him  to  go  to  Jamaica  is  very  false  j 
he  knows  the  contrary  ;  besides,  the  Protector  never  was 
a  man  that  needed  to  send  for  any  man,  especially  such 
a  one  as  he,  twice.  He  tells  me  that  the  business  of 
Jamaica  did  miscarry  absolutely  by  his  pride,  and  that, 

200 


MR.    PEPYS   ON   RELIGION 


when  he  was  in  the  Tower,  he  would  cry  like  a  child. 
And  that  just  upon  the  turne,  when  Monk  was  come 
from  the  North  to  the  City,  and  did  begin  to  think  of 
bringing  in  the  King,  Pen  was  then  turned  Quaker. 
That  Lawson  was  never  counted  any  thing  but  only  a 
seaman,  and  a  stout  man,  but  a  false  man,  and  that  now 
he  appears  the  greatest  hypocrite  in  the  world.  And 
Pen  the  same.  He  tells  me,  that  it  is  much  talked  of, 
that  the  King  intends  to  legitimate  the  Duke  of  Mon- 
mouth  ;  and  that  neither  he,  nor  his  friends  of  his  per- 
suasion, have  any  hopes  of  getting  their  consciences  at 
liberty  but  by  God  Almighty's  turning  of  the  King's  heart, 
which  they  expect,  and  are  resolved  to  live  and  die  in 
quiet  hopes  of  it  ;  but  never  to  repine,  or  act  any  thing 
more  than  by  prayers  towards  it.  And  that  not  only 
himself,  but  all  of  them  have,  and  are  willing,  at  any 
time,  to  take  the  oaths  of  Allegiance  and  Supremacy. 
Mr.  Blackburne  observed  further  to  me,  some  certain 
notice  that  he  had  of  the  present  plot  so  much  talked  of; 
that  he  was  told  by  Mr.  Rushworth  how  one  Captain 
Oates,  a  great  Discoverer,  did  employ  several  to  bring 
and  seduce  others  into  a  plot,  and  that  one  of  his  agents 
met  with  one  that  would  not  listen  to  him,  nor  conceal 
what  he  had  offered  him,  but  so  detected  the  trepan. 
He  did  also  much  insist  upon  the  cowardice  and  corrup- 
tion of  the  King's  guards  and  militia. 


201 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 


MR.   PEPYS  AND  ROYALTY 

November  22,  1660. 

My  wife  and  I  walked  to  the  Old  Exchange,  and 
there  she  bought  her  a  white  whisk,1  and  put  it  on,  and 
I  a  pair  of  gloves.  To  Mr.  Fox's,  where  we  found  Mrs. 
Fox  within,  and  an  alderman  of  London  paying  ,£1,000 
or  £1,400  in  gold  upon  the  table  for  the  King.  Mr. 
Fox  come  in  presently,  and  did  receive  us  with  a  great 
deal  of  respect  ;  and  then  did  take  my  wife  and  I  to 
the  Queen's  presence-chamber,  where  he  got  my  wife 
placed  behind  the  Queen's  chaire,  and  the  two  Princesses 
come  to  dinner.  The  Queen,  a  very  little,  plain  old 
woman,  and  nothing  more  in  her  presence  in  any  respect 
nor  garbe  than  any  ordinary  woman.  The  Princess  of 
Orange  I  had  often  seen  before.  The  Princess  Henrietta 
is  very  pretty,  but  much  below  my  expectation  j  and  her 
dressing  of  herself  with  her  haire  frized  short  up  to  her 
eares  did  make  her  seem  so  much  the  less  to  me.  But 
my  wife  standing  near  her  with  two  or  three  black 
patches  on,  and  well  dressed,  did  seem  to  me  much 
handsomer  than  she. 

1  A  sort  of  tippet  formerly  worn  by  women, 
2O2 


MR.   PEPYS  AND   ROYALTY 


November  27,  1662. 

At  my  waking,  I  found  the  tops  of  the  houses  covered 
with  snow,  which  is  a  rare  sight,  which  I  have  not  seen 
these  three  years.  To  the  office,  where  we  sat  till  noon  ; 
when  we  all  went  to  the  next  house  upon  Tower  Hill 
to  see  the  coming  by  of  the  Russia  Embassador ;  for 
whose  reception  all  the  City  trained  bands  do  attend  in 
the  streets,  and  the  King's  life-guards,  and  most  of  the 
wealthy  citizens  in  their  black  velvet  coats,  and  gold 
chains,  which  remain  of  their  gallantry  at  the  King's 
coming  in,  but  they  staid  so  long  that  we  went  down 
again  to  dinner.  And  after  I  had  dined,  I  walked  to  the 
Conduit  in  the  Quarrefowr,  at  the  end  of  Gracious 
Street  and  Cornhill;  and  there,  the  spouts  thereof 
running  very  near  me  upon  all  the  people  that  were 
under  it,  I  saw  them  pretty  well  go  by.  I  could  not  see 
the  Embassador  in  his  coach ;  but  his  attendants  in  their 
habits  and  fur  caps  very  handsome,  comely  men,  and 
most  of  them  with  hawkes  upon  their  fists  to  present  to 
the  King.  But,  Lord !  to  see  the  absurd  nature  of 
Englishmen,  that  cannot  forbear  laughing  and  jeering  at 
every  thing  that  looks  strange. 

July  13,  1663. 

I  met  the  Queen  Mother  walking  in  the  Pell  Mell, 
led  by  my  Lord  St.  Albans.  And  finding  many  coaches 
at  the  Gate,  I  found  upon  enquiry  that  the  Duchess  is 
brought  to  bed  of  a  boy ;  and  hearing  that  the  King 
and  Queen  are  rode  abroad  with  the  Ladies  of  Honour 
to  the  Park  ;  and,  seeing  a  great  crowd  of  gallants  staying 

203 


RED-LETTER    DAYS  OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

here  to  see  their  return,  I  also  staid  walking  up  and  down. 
By  and  by  the  King  and  Queen,  who  looked  in  this  dress, 
a  white  laced  waistcoate  and  a  crimson  short  pettycoate, 
and  her  hair  dressed  a  la  ntg/igence,  mighty  pretty  :  and  the 
King  rode  hand  in  hand  with  her.  Here  was  also  my 
Lady  Castlemaine,  who  rode  among  the  rest  of  the  ladies  ; 
but  the  King  took,  methought,  no  notice  of  her ;  nor 
when  she  'light,  did  any  body  press,  as  she  seemed  to 
expect,  and  staid  for  it,  to  take  her  down,  but  was 
taken  down  by  her  own  gentleman.  She  looked  mighty 
out  of  humour,  and  had  a  yellow  plume  in  her  hat,  which 
all  took  notice  of,  and  yet  is  very  handsome,  but  very 
melancholy  ;  nor  did  any  body  speak  to  her,  or  she  so 
much  as  smile  or  speak  to  any  body.  I  followed  them 
up  into  Whitehall,  and  into  the  Queen's  presence,  where 
all  the  ladies  walked,  talking  and  riddling  with  their  hats 
and  feathers,  and  changing  and  trying  one  another's  by 
one  another's  heads,  and  laughing.  But  it  was  the  finest 
sight  to  me,  considering  their  great  beautys  and  dress, 
that  ever  I  did  see  in  all  my  life.  But,  above  all,  Mrs. 
Stewart  in  this  dresse,  with  her  hat  cocked  and  a  red 
plume,  with  her  sweet  eye,  little  Roman  nose,  and 
excellent  taille,  is  now  the  greatest  beauty  I  ever  saw,  I 
think,  in  my  life  ;  and,  if  ever  woman  can,  do  exceed  my 
Lady  Castlemaine,  at  least  in  this  dress  :  nor  do  I  wonder 
if  the  King  changes,  which  I  verily  believe  is  the  reason 
of  his  coldness  to  my  Lady  Castlemaine. 

October  19,  1663. 

Coming  to  St.  James's,  I  hear  that  the  Queen  did  sleep 
204 


MR.    PEPYS   AND   ROYALTY 


five  hours  pretty  well  to-night,  and  that  she  waked  and 
gargled  her  mouth,  and  to  sleep  again  ;  but  that  her  pulse 
beats  fast,  beating  twenty  to  the  King's  or  my  Lady 
Suffolk's  eleven  ;  but  not  so  strong  as  it  was.  It  seems 
she  was  so  ill  as  to  be  shaved,  and  pidgeons  put  to  her 
feet,  and  to  have  the  extreme  unction  given  her  by  the 
priests,  who  were  so  long  about  it  that  the  doctors  were 
angry.  The  King,  they  all  say,  is  most  fondly  dis- 
consolate for  her,  and  weeps  by  her,  which  makes  her 
weep ;  which  one  this  day  told  me  he  reckons  is  a 
good  sign,  for  that  it  carries  away  some  rheume  from 
the  head. 

October  20,  1663. 

This  evening,  at  my  Lord's  lodgings,  Mrs.  Sarah  talk- 
ing with  my  wife  and  I  how  the  Queen  do,  and  how  the 
King  tends  her,  being  so  ill.  She  tells  us  that  the 
Queen's  sickness  is  the  spotted  fever ;  that  she  was  as 
full  of  the  spots  as  a  leopard  :  which  is  very  strange  that 
it  should  be  no  more  known  ;  but  perhaps  it  is  not  so. 
And  that  the  King  do  seem  to  take  it  much  to  heart,  for 
that  he  hath  wept  before  her ;  but,  for  all  that,  that  he 
hath  not  missed  one  night,  since  she  was  sick,  of  supping 
with  my  Lady  Castlemaine  ;  which  I  believe  is  true,  for 
she  says  that  her  husband  hath  dressed  the  suppers  every 
night ;  and  I  confess  I  saw  him  myself  coming  through  the 
street  dressing  up  a  great  supper  to-night,  which  Sarah 
says  is  also  for  the  King  and  her  :  which  is  a  very  strange 
thing. 

205 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

October  22,   1663. 

This  morning,  hearing  that  the  Queen  grows  worse 
again,  I  sent  to  stop  the  making  of  my  velvet  cloak,  till 
I  see  whether  she  lives  or  dies. 

October  27,  1663. 

Mr.  Coventry  tells  me  to-day  that  the  Queen  had  a 
very  good  night  last  night ;  but  yet  it  is  strange  that  still 
she  raves  and  talks  of  little  more  than  of  her  having  of 
children,  and  fancys  now  that  she  hath  three  children, 
and  that  the  girle  is  very  like  the  King.  And  this  morn- 
ing, about  five  o'clock,  the  physician,  feeling  her  pulse, 
thinking  to  be  better  able  to  judge,  she  being  still  and 
asleep,  waked  her,  and  the  first  word  she  said  was,  "  How 
do  the  children  ?  " 

November  2,  1663. 

Up,  and  by  coach  to  White  Hall,  and  there  in  the  long 
Matted  Gallery  I  find  Sir  G.  Carteret,  Sir  J.  Minnes, 
and  Sir  W.  Batten  ;  and  by  and  by  comes  the  King,  to 
walk  there  with  three  or  four  with  him  ;  and,  soon  as  he 
saw  us,  says  he,  "Here  is  the  Navy  Office,"  and  there 
walked  twenty  turns  the  length  of  the  gallery,  talking, 
methought,  but  ordinary  talk.  By  and  by  come  the 
Duke,  and  he  walked,  and  at  last  they  went  into  the 
Duke's  lodgings.  The  King  staid  so  long,  that  we  could 
not  discourse  with  the  Duke,  and  so  we  parted.  I  heard 
the  Duke  say  that  he  was  going  to  wear  a  perriwigg  ;  and 
they  say  the  King  also  will.  I  never  till  this  day  observed 
that  the  King  is  mighty  gray. 

206 


MR.    PEPYS   AND    ROYALTY 


November  28,  1663. 

To-day,  for  certain,  I  am  told  how  in  Holland  pub- 
lickly  they  have  pictured  our  King  with  reproach  :  one 
way,  is  with  his  pockets  turned  the  wrong  side  outward, 
hanging  out  empty  ;  another,  with  two  courtiers,  picking 
of  his  pockets  ;  and  a  third,  leading  of  two  ladies,  while 
others  abuse  him  j  which  amounts  to  great  contempt. 

January  4,  1663-64. 

To  the  Tennis  Court,  and  there  saw  the  King  play  at 
tennis  and  others  :  but  to  see  how  the  King's  play  was 
extolled,  without  any  cause  at  all,  was  a  loathsome  sight, 
though  sometimes,  indeed,  he  did  play  very  well,  and 
deserved  to  be  commended ;  but  such  open  flattery  is 
beastly. 

April  17,  1665. 

Thence  to  White  Hall ;  where  the  King,  seeing  me, 
did  come  to  me,  and,  calling  me  by  name,  did  discourse 
with  me  about  the  ships  in  the  River  :  and  this  is  the 
first  time  that  ever  I  knew  the  King  did  know  me  per- 
sonally ;  so  that  hereafter  I  must  not  go  thither,  but 
with  expectation  to  be  questioned,  and  to  be  ready  to  give 
good  answers. 

January  28,  1665-66. 

(Lord's  day.)  Took  coach,  and  to  Hampton  Court, 
where  we  find  the  King,  and  Duke,  and  Lords,  all  in 
council ;  so  we  walked  up  and  down  :  there  being  none 
of  the  ladies  come,  and  so  much  the  more  business  I  hope 

207 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

will  be  done.  The  Council  being  up,  out  comes  the 
King,  and  I  kissed  his  hand,  and  he  grasped  me  very 
kindly  by  the  hand.  The  Duke  also,  I  kissed  his,  and 
he  mighty  kind,  and  Sir  W.  Coventry.  I  found  my 
Lord  Sandwich  there,  poor  man  !  I  see  with  a  melan- 
choly face,  and  suffers  his  beard  to  grow  on  his  upper  lip 
more  than  usual.  I  took  him  a  little  aside,  to  know 
when  I  should  wait  on  him,  and  where  :  he  told  me, 
that  it  would  be  best  to  meet  at  his  lodgings,  without 
being  seen  to  walk  together,  which  I  liked  very  well ; 
and,  Lord  !  to  see  in  what  difficulty  I  stand,  that  I  dare 
not  walk  with  Sir  W.  Coventry,  for  fear  my  Lord  or  Sir 
G.  Carteret  should  see  me  ;  nor  with  either  of  them,  for 
fear  Sir  W.  Coventry  should.  I  went  down  into  one  of 
the  Courts,  and  there  met  the  King  and  Duke  ;  and  the 
Duke  called  me  to  him.  And  the  King  come  to  me 
of  himself,  and  told  me,  "  Mr.  Pepys,"  says  he,  "  I  do 
give  you  thanks  for  your  good  service  all  this  year,  and  I 
assure  you  I  am  very  sensible  of  it."  And  the  Duke  of 
York  did  tell  me  with  pleasure,  that  he  had  read  over 
my  discourse  about  pursers,  and  would  have  it  ordered 
in  my  way,  and  so  fell  from  one  discourse  to  another. 

April  15,  1666. 

(Lord's  day.)  Walked  into  the  Park  to  the 
Queen's  chapel,  and  there  heard  a  good  deal  of  their 
mass,  and  some  of  their  musique,  which  is  not  so  con- 
temptible, I  think,  as  our  people  would  make  it,  it 
pleasing  me  very  well  ;  and,  indeed,  better  than  the 
anthem  I  heard  afterwards  at  White  Hall,  at  my  coming 

208 


MR.   PEPYS  AND   ROYALTY 


back.  I  staid  till  the  King  went  down  to  receive  the 
Sacrament,  and  stood  in  his  closet  with  a  great  many 
others,  and  there  saw  him  receive  it,  which  I  never  did 
see  the  manner  of  before.  But  I  do  see  very  little  differ- 
ence between  the  degree  of  the  ceremonies  used  by  our 
people  in  the  administration  thereof,  and  that  in  the 
Roman  church,  saving  that,  methought,  our  Chapel  was 
not  so  fine,  nor  the  manner  of  doing  it  so  glorious,  as 
it  was  in  the  Queen's  chapel. 

July  25,  1666. 

At  White  Hall ;  we  find  the  Court  gone  to  Chapel, 
it  being  St.  James's-day.  And,  by  the  by,  while  they 
are  at  chapel,  and  we  waiting  chapel  being  done,  come 
people  out  of  the  Park,  telling  us  that  the  guns  are  heard 
plainly.  And  so  every  body  to  the  Park,  and  by  and 
by  the  chapel  done ;  and  the  King  and  Duke  into  the 
bowling-green,  and  upon  the  leads,  whither  I  went,  and 
there  the  guns  were  plain  to  be  heard  ;  though  it  was 
pretty  to  hear  how  confident  some  would  be  in  the 
loudnesse  of  the  guns,  which  it  was  as  much  as  ever  I 
could  do  to  hear  them.  By  and  by  the  King  to  dinner, 
and  I  waited  there  his  dining  ;  but,  Lord  !  how  little  I 
should  be  pleased,  I  think,  to  have  so  many  people 
crowding  about  me ;  and,  among  other  things,  it 
astonished  me  to  see  my  Lord  Barkeshire  waiting  at 
table,  and  serving  the  King  drink,  in  that  dirty  pickle 
as  I  never  saw  man  in  my  life.  Here  I  met  Mr.  Wil- 
liams, who  would  have  me  to  dine  where  he  was  invited 
to  dine,  at  the  Backestayres.  So,  after  the  King's  meat 

209  p 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

was  taken  away,  we  thither ;  but  he  could  not  stay, 
but  left  me  there  among  two  or  three  of  the  King's 
servants,  where  we  dined  with  the  meat  that  come  from 
his  table  ;  which  was  most  excellent,  with  most  brave 
drink  cooled  in  ice,  which,  at  this  hot  time,  was  wel- 
come ;  and  I,  drinking  no  wine,  had  metheglin  for  the 
King's  own  drinking,  which  did  please  me  mightily, 

October  8,  1666. 

The  King  hath  yesterday,  in  Council,  declared  his 
resolution  of  setting  a  fashion  for  clothes,  which  he  will 
never  alter.  It  will  be  a  vest,  I  know  not  well  how  ; 
but  it  is  to  teach  the  nobility  thrift,  and  will  do  good. 

October  13,  1666. 

To  White  Hall,  and  there  the  Duke  of  York,  who 
is  gone  over  to  all  his  pleasures  again,  and  leaves  off 
care  of  business,  what  with  his  woman,  my  Lady  Den- 
ham,  and  his  hunting  three  times  a  week,  was  just 
come  in  from  hunting.  So  I  stood  and  saw  him  dress 
himself,  and  try  on  his  vest,  which  is  the  King's  new 
fashion,  and  he  will  be  in  it  for  good  and  all  on  Monday 
next,  and  the  whole  Court :  it  is  a  fashion,  the  King 
says,  he  will  never  change. 

October  15,  1666. 

This  day  the  King  begins  to  put  on  his  vest,  and 
I  did  see  several  persons  of  the  House  of  Lords  and 
Commons  too,  great  courtiers,  who  are  in  it  ;  being 
a  long  cassocke  close  to  the  body,  of  black  cloth,  and 

210 


MR.    PEPYS   AND    ROYALTY 


pinked  with  white  silk  under  it,  and  a  coat  over  it, 
and  the  legs  ruffled  with  black  riband  like  a  pigeon's 
leg  :  and,  upon  the  whole,  I  wish  the  King  may  keep 
it,  for  it  is  a  very  fine  and  handsome  garment.1 

November  22,  1666. 

Mr.  Batelier  tells  me  the  news  how  the  King  of  France 
hath,  in  defiance  to  the  King  of  England,  caused  all 
his  footmen  to  be  put  into  vests,  and  that  the  noblemen 
of  France  will  do  the  like  ;  which,  if  true,  is  the 
greatest  indignity  ever  done  by  one  Prince  to  another, 
and  would  excite  a  stone  to  be  revenged  ;  and  I  hope 
our  King  will,  if  it  be  so,  as  he  tells  me  it  is  : 2  being 
told  by  one  that  come  over  from  Paris  with  my  Lady 

1  Rugge,  in  his  Dlurnaly  thus  describes  the  new  court  costume  : — "  1666, 
Oct.  ii.     In  this   month  His  Majestic  and  the  whole  court  changed  the 
fashion  of  their  clothes — viz.,  a  close  coat  of  cloth  pinkt,  with  a  white 
taffety  under  the  cutts.     This  in  length  reached  the  calf  of  the  leg,  and 
upon  that  a  sercoat  cutt  at  the  breast,  which  hung  loose  and  shorter  than  the 
vest  six  inches.     The  breeches  the  Spanish  cut,  and  buskins  some  of  cloth, 
some  of  leather,  but  of  the  same  colour,  as  the  vest  or  garment ;  of  never 
the  like  fashion  since  William  the  Conqueror."     Evelyn  says,  "It  was   a 
comely  and  manly  habit,  too  good   to  hold,  it  being  impossible  for  us,  in 
good  ernest,  to  leave  the  Monsieur's  vanities  long."     See  also  his  Diaryt 
Oct.  18,  1666.   Charles  resolved  never  to  alter  it,  and  "to  leave  the  French 
mode,  which  had  hitherto  obtained,   to  our   great  expence  and  reproach." 
But  his  consistency  was  so  well  known,  that  "  divers  gentlemen  and  courtiers 
gave  him  gold,  by  way  of  wagers,  that  he  would  not  persist  in  his  resolu- 
tion."— S^uar.  Review,  vol.   xix.  p.   41.     It  is  represented  in  a  portrait  of 
Lord  Arlington,  by   Sir  P.  Lely,  formerly  belonging  to  Lord  de   Clifford, 
and  engraved  in  Lodge's   lllus.  Persons.     Louis  XIV.  ordered  his  servants 
to  wear  the  dress. 

2  Perhaps  this  influenced  Charles  II.  in  abandoning  his  new  costume, 
which,  at  all  events,  was  shortly  discontinued,  notwithstanding  his  having 
betted  that  it  should  never  be  changed. 

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RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

Fanshaw,  who  is  come  over  with  the  dead  body  of  her 
husband,  and  that  saw  it  before  he  come  away.  This 
makes  me  mighty  merry,  it  being  an  ingenious  kind  of 
affront ;  but  yet  makes  me  angry,  to  see  that  the  King 
of  England  is  become  so  little  as  to  have  the  affront 
offered  him. 

September  2,  1667. 

I  went  to  see  a  great  match  at  tennis  between  Prince 
Rupert  and  one  Captain  Cooke  against  Bab.  May  and 
the  elder  Chichly  ;  where  the  King  was,  and  Court ; 
and  it  seems  they  are  the  best  players  at  tennis  in  the 
nation.  But  this  puts  me  in  mind  of  what  I  observed 
in  the  morning,  that  the  King,  playing  at  tennis,  had 
a  steele-yard  carried  to  him  ;  and  I  was  told  it  was  to 
weigh  him  after  he  had  done  playing  ;  and  at  noon  Mr. 
Ashburnham  told  me  that  it  is  only  the  King's  curiosity, 
which  he  usually  hath  of  weighing  himself  before  and 
after  his  play,  to  see  how  much  he  loses  in  weight  by 
playing  :  and  this  day  he  lost  4^  Ibs. 

September  8,  1667. 

To  White  Hall,  and  saw  the  King  and  Queen  at 
dinner ;  and  observed,  which  I  never  did  before,  the 
formality,  but  it  is  but  a  formality,  of  putting  a  bit  or 
bread  wiped  upon  each  dish  into  the  mouth  of  every 
man  that  brings  a  dish  ;  but  it  should  be  in  the  sauce. 
Here  were  some  Russes  come  to  see  the  King  at  dinner ; 
among  others,  the  interpreter,  a  comely  Englishman, 
in  the  Envoy's  own  clothes ;  which  the  Envoy,  it 

212 


MR.    PEPYS   AND   ROYALTY 


seems,  in  vanity  did  send  to  show  his  fine  clothes  upon 
this  man's  back,  he  being  one,  it  seems,  of  a  comelier 
presence  than  himself:  and  yet  it  is  said  that  none  of 
their  clothes  are  their  own,  but  taken  out  of  the  King's 
own  Wardrobe ;  and  which  they  dare  not  bring  back 
dirty  or  spotted,  but  clean,  or  are  in  danger  of  being 
beaten,  as  they  say  :  insomuch  that,  Sir  Charles  Cotterell 
says,  when  they  are  to  have  an  audience  they  never 
venture  to  put  on  their  clothes  till  he  appears  to  come 
to  fetch  them  ;  and,  as  soon  as  ever  they  come  home, 
put  them  off  again. 

May  24,  1669. 

To  White  Hall,  where  I  attended  the  Duke  of  York, 
and  was  by  him  led  to  the  King,  who  expressed  great 
sense  of  my  misfortune  in  my  eyes,  and  concernment 
for  their  recovery  ;  and  accordingly  signified,  not  only 
his  assent  to  my  desire  therein,  but  commanded  me  to 
give  them  rest  this  summer,  according  to  my  late 
petition  to  the  Duke  of  York. 


213 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 


MR.   PEPYS'S  COMMENTS   ON 
SCIENTIFIC  MATTERS 

July  3,  1662. 

Dined  with  the  officers  of  the  Ordnance  ;  where  Sir 
W.  Compton,  Mr.  O'Neal,  and  other  great  persons 
were.  After  dinner,  was  brought  to  Sir  W.  Compton  a 
gun  to  discharge  seven  times  ;  the  best  of  all  devices 
that  ever  I  saw,  and  very  serviceable,  and  not  a  bawble  ; 
for  it  is  much  approved  of,  and  many  thereof  made. 

November  1 1,  1663. 

At  noon  to  the  Coftee-house,  where,  with  Dr.  Allen, 
some  good  discourse  about  physick  and  chymistry.  And 
among  other  things,  I  telling  him  what  Dribble,  the 
German  Doctor,  do  offer  of  an  instrument  to  sink  ships  ; 
he  tells  me  that  which  is  more  strange,  that  something 
made  of  gold,  which  they  call  in  chymistry  Aurum 
FulminanS)  a  grain,  I  think  he  said,  of  it,  put  into  a 
silver  spoon  and  fired,  will  give  a  blow  like  a  musquett, 
and  strike  a  hole  through  the  silver  spoon  downward, 
without  the  least  force  upward  ;  and  this  he  can  make 
a  cheaper  experiment  of,  he  says,  with  iron  prepared. 

214 


MR.   PEPYS   ON    SCIENTIFIC   MATTERS 

May  1 6,  1664. 

With  Mr.  Pierce,  the  surgeon,  to  see  an  experiment 
of  killing  a  dog,  by  letting  opium  into  his  hind-leg.  He 
and  Dr.  Clerke  did  fail  mightily  in  hitting  the  vein,  and 
in  effect  did  not  do  the  business  after  many  trials  ;  but, 
with  the  little  they  got  in  the  dog  did  presently  fall 
asleep,  and  so  lay  till  we  cut  him  up,  and  a  little  dog 
also,  which  they  put  it  down  his  throat — he  also  stag- 
gered first,  and  then  fell  asleep,  and  so  continued. 
Whether  he  recovered  or  no,  after  I  was  gone,  I  know  not. 

April  19,  1665. 

To  Gresham  College,  where  we  saw  some  experi- 
ments upon  a  hen,  a  dog,  and  a  cat,  of  the  Florence 
poyson.  The  first  it  made  for  a  time  drunk,  but  it 
come  to  itself  again  quickly  ;  the  second  it  made  vomit 
mightily,  but  no  other  hurt.  The  third  I  did  not  stay 
to  see  the  effect  of  it. 

May  19,  1666. 

Mr.  Deane  and  I  did  discourse  about  his  ship  Rupert, 
built  by  him,  which  succeeds  so  well  as  he  hath  got 
great  honour  by  it,  and  I  some,  by  recommending  him  ; 
the  King,  Duke,  and  every  body,  saying  it  is  the  best 
ship  that  was  ever  built.  And  then  he  fell  to  explain 
to  me  his  manner  of  casting  the  draught  of  water  which 
a  ship  will  draw  beforehand  :  which  is  a  secret  the 
King  and  all  admire  in  him  ;  and  he  is  the  first  that 
hath  come  to  any  certainty  beforehand,  of  foretelling  the 
draught  of  water  of  a  ship  before  she  be  launched. 

215 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

July  28,  1666. 

To  the  Pope's  Head,  where  my  Lord  Brouncker  and 
his  mistress  dined,  and  Commissioner  Pett,  Dr.  Charleton, 
and  myself,  were  entertained  with  a  venison  pasty  by  Sir 
W.  Warren.  Here  very  pretty  discourse  of  Dr.  Charle- 
ton's,  concerning  Nature's  fashioning  every  creature's 
teeth  according  to  the  food  she  intends  them ;  and  that 
men's,  it  is  plain,  was  not  for  flesh,  but  fruit,  and  that  he 
can  at  any  time  tell  the  food  of  a  beast  unknown  by  the 
teeth  ;  and  that  all  children  love  fruit,  and  none  brought 
to  flesh,  but  against  their  wills,  at  first. 

August  8,  1666. 

Discoursed  with  Mr.  Hooke  about  the  nature  or 
sounds,  and  he  did  make  me  understand  the  nature  of 
musicall  sounds  made  by  strings,  mighty  prettily  ;  and 
told  me  that  having  come  to  a  certain  number  of  vibra- 
tions proper  to  make  any  tone,  he  is  able  to  tell  how 
many  strokes  a  fly  makes  with  her  wings,  those  flies  that 
hum  in  their  flying,  by  the  note  that  it  answers  to  in 
musique,  during  their  flying.  That,  I  suppose,  is  a  little 
too  much  refined  ;  but  his  discourse  in  general  or  sound 
was  mighty  fine. 

November  14,  1666. 

To  the  Pope's  Head,  where  all  the  Houblons  were, 
and  Dr.  Croone.  Dr.  Croone  told  me,  that,  at  the 
meeting  at  Gresham  College  to-night,  which,  it  seems, 
they  now  have  every  Wednesday  again,  there  was  a  pretty 
experiment  of  the  blood  of  one  dog  let  out,  till  he  died, 

216 


MR.    PEPYS   ON   SCIENTIFIC    MATTERS 

into  the  body  of  another  on  one  side,  while  all  his  own 
run  out  on  the  other  side.  The  first  died  upon  the  place, 
and  the  other  very  well,  and  likely  to  do  well.  This  did 
give  occasion  to  many  pretty  wishes,  as  of  the  blood  of 
a  Quaker  to  be  let  into  an  Archbishop,  and  such  like ; 
but,  as  Dr.  Croone  says,  may,  if  it  takes,  be  of  mighty 
use  to  man's  health,  for  the  mending  of  bad  blood  by 
borrowing  from  a  better  body. 

November  16,  1666. 

This  noon  I  met  with  Mr.  Hooke,  and  he  tells  me 
the  dog  which  was  filled  with  another  dog's  blood,  at  the 
College  the  other  day,  is  very  well,  and  like  to  be  so  as 
ever,  and  doubts  not  its  being  found  of  great  use  to  men ; 
and  so  do  Dr.  Whistler,  who  dined  with  us  at  the 
tavern. 

February  3,  1666—67. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  White  Hall,  and  there  to  Sir  W. 
Coventry's  chamber,  and  there  staid  till  he  was  ready, 
talking,  and  among  other  things  of  the  Prince's  being 
trepanned,  which  was  in  doing  just  as  we  passed  through 
the  Stone  Gallery,  we  asking  at  the  door  of  his  lodgings, 
and  were  told  so.  We  are  full  of  wishes  for  the  good 
success  ;  though  I  dare  say  but  few  do  really  concern 
ourselves  tor  him  in  our  hearts.  With  others  into  the 
House,  and  there  hear  that  the  work  is  done  to  the 
Prince  in  a  few  minutes  without  any  pain  at  all  to  him, 
he  not  knowing  when  it  was  done.  It  was  performed  by 
Moulins.  Having  cut  the  outward  table,  as  they  call  it, 

217 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

they  find  the  inner  all  corrupted,  so  as  it  come  out  with- 
out any  force  ;  and  their  fear  is,  that  the  whole  inside  of 
his  head  is  corrupted  like  that,  which  do  yet  make  them 
afraid  of  him  ;  but  no  ill  accident  appeared  in  the  doing 
of  the  thing,  but  all  with  all  imaginable  success,  as  Sir 
Alexander  Frazier  did  tell  me  himself,  I  asking  him,  who 
is  very  kind  to  me. 

November  21,  1667. 

With  Creed  to  a  tavern,  where  Dean  Wilkins  and 
others  :  and  good  discourse  ;  among  the  rest,  of  a  man 
that  is  a  little  frantic,  that  hath  been  a  kind  of  minister, 
Dr.  Wilkins  saying  that  he  hath  read  for  him  in  his 
church,  that  is  poor  and  a  debauched  man,  that  the 
College  have  hired  for  2OS.  to  have  some  of  the  blood  of 
a  sheep  let  into  his  body ;  and  it  is  to  be  done  on  Saturday 
next.  They  purpose  to  let  in  about  twelve  ounces  ; 
which,  they  compute,  is  what  will  be  let  in  in  a  minute's 
time  by  a  watch.  On  this  occasion,  Dr.  Whistler  told 
a  pretty  story  related  by  MufFet,  a  good  author,  of  Dr. 
Caius,  that  built  Caius  College ;  that,  being  very  old, 
and  living  only  at  that  time  upon  woman's  milk, 
he,  while  he  fed  upon  the  milk  of  an  angry,  fretful 
woman,  was.  so  himself;  and  then,  being  advised  to 
take  it  of  a  good-natured,  patient  woman,  he  did 
become  so,  beyond  the  common  temper  of  his  age. 
Their  discourse  was  very  fine  ;  and  if  I  should  be  put 
out  of  my  office,  I  do  take  great  content  in  the 
liberty  I  shall  be  at,  of  frequenting  these  gentlemen's 
company. 

218 


MR.   PEPYS   ON   SCIENTIFIC    MATTERS 

October  27,  1668. 

This  evening  Mr.  Spong  come,  and  sat  late  with  me, 
and  first  told  me  of  the  instrument  called  a  parallelogram,1 
which  I  must  have  one  of,  shewing  me  his  practice 
thereon,  by  a  map  of  England. 

1  Now  generally  called  pentagraph.  It  is  a  very  useful  instrument,  by 
means  of  which  persons  having  no  skill  in  drawing  may  copy  designs, 
prints,  &c.,  in  any  proportion. 


219 


RED-LETTER   DAYS  OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 


MR.   PEPYS   AND   HIS   SERVANTS 

March  24,  1660. 

At  work  hard  all  the  day  writing  letters  to  the  Council, 
&c.  Mr.  Creed  came  on  board,  and  dined  very  boldly 
with  my  Lord.  The  boy  Eliezer  flung  down  a  can  of 
beer  upon  my  papers,  which  made  me  give  him  a  box  of 
the  ear,  it  having  cost  me  a  great  deal  of  work. 

December  I,  1660. 

This  morning,  observing  some  things  to  be  laid  up  not 
as  they  should  be  by  my  girl,  I  took  a  broom  and  basted 
her  till  she  cried  extremely,  which  made  me  vexed  ;  but 
before  I  went  out,  I  left  her  appeased. 

October  2O,  1 66 1 . 

(Lord's  day.)  Much  offended  in  mind  at  a  proud 
trick  my  man  Will  hath  got,  to  keep  his  hat  on  in  the 
house,  but  I  will  not  speak  of  it  to  him  to-day,  but  I  fear 
I  shall  be  troubled  with  his  pride  and  lazinesse,  though 
in  other  things  he  is  good  enough. 

220 


MR.    PEPYS  AND   HIS   SERVANTS 

October  25,  1 66 1. 

I  did  give  my  man  Will  a  sound  lesson  about  his 
forbearing  to  give  us  the  respect  due  to  a  master  and 
mistress. 

February  24,  1661-62. 

Called  Will  up,  and  chid  him  berore  my  wife,  for 
refusing  to  go  to  church  with  the  maids  yesterday,  and 
telling  his  mistress  that  he  would  not  be  made  a  slave  of. 

February  28,  1661-62. 

The  boy  failing  to  call  us  up  as  I  commanded,  I  was 
angry,  and  resolved  to  whip  him  for  that,  and  many  other 
faults,  to-day.  Early  with  Sir  W.  Pen  by  coach  to  White 
Hall,  to  the  Duke  of  Yorke's  chamber,  and  there  I 
presented  him  from  my  Lord  a  fine  map  of  Tangier, 
done  by  one  Captain  Beckman,  a  Swede,  that  is  with 
my  Lord.  We  staid  looking  it  over  a  great  while  with 
the  Duke  after  he  was  ready.  I  bad  Will  get  me  a  rod, 
and  he  and  I  called  the  boy  up  to  one  of  the  upper  rooms 
of  the  Comptroller's  house  towards  the  garden,  and  there 
I  reckoned  all  his  faults,  and  whipped  him  soundly,  but 
the  rods  was  so  small  that  I  fear  they  did  not  much  hurt 
to  him,  but  only  to  my  arm,  which  I  am  already,  within 
a  quarter  of  an  houre,  not  able  to  stir  almost. 

June  8,  1662. 

Home,  and  observe  my  man  Will  to  walk  with  his 
cloak  flung  over  his  shoulder,  which,  whether  it  was  that 
he  might  not  be  seen  to  walk  along  with  the  footboy  I 

221 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

know  not,  but  I  was  vexed  at  it ;  and  coming  home, 
and  after  prayers,  I  did  ask  him  where  he  learned  that 
immodest  garb  ;  and  he  answered  me,  that  it  was  not 
immodest,  or  some  such  slight  answer,  at  which  I  did 
give  him  two  boxes  on  the  eares,  which  I  never  did  before. 

"January  12,  1662-63. 

To  the  King's  Head  ordinary,  but  people  being  set 
down,  we  went  to  two  or  three  places  ;  at  last  found 
some  meat  at  a  Welch  cook's  at  Charing  Crosse,  and 
here  dined  and  our  boys.  Mine  had  struck  down  Creed's 
boy  in  the  dirt,  with  his  new  suit  on,  and  the  boy  taken 
by  a  gentlewoman  into  a  house  to  make  clean,  but  the 
poor  boy  was  in  a  pitiful  taking  and  pickle,  but  I  basted 
my  rogue  soundly. 

February  19,  1664-65. 

(Lord's  day.)  Hearing  by  accident  of  my  maid's  letting 
in  a  roguing  Scotch  woman  that  haunts  the  office,  to 
help  them  to  wash  and  scour  in  our  house,  and  that 
very  lately,  I  fell  mightily  out,  and  made  my  wife,  to 
the  disturbance  of  the  house  and  neighbours,  to  beat  our 
little  girle,  and  then  we  shut  her  down  into  the  cellar, 
and  there  she  lay  all  night. 

March  2,  1665. 

Begun  this  day  to  rise  betimes  before  six  o'clock,  and, 
going  down  to  call  my  people,  found  Besse  and  the  girle 
with  their  clothes  on,  lying  within  their  bedding  upon 
the  ground  close  by  the  fireside,  and  a  candle  burning  all 

222 


MR.    PEPYS   AND    HIS   SERVANTS 

night,  pretending  they  would  rise  to  scoure.     But  Besse, 
is  going,  and  so  she  will  not  trouble  me  long. 

March  6,  1665. 

I  saw  Besse  go  away  ;  she  having,  of  all  wenches  that 
ever  lived  with  us,  received  the  greatest  love  and  kind- 
ness, and  good  clothes  besides  wages,  and  gone  away  with 
the  greatest  ingratitude. 

'January  2O,  1665—66. 

I  sent  my  boy  home  for  some  papers,  where,  he  stay- 
ing longer  than  I  would  have  him,  I  become  angry,  and 
boxed  my  boy  when  he  come,  that  I  do  hurt  my  thum  so 
much,  that  I  was  not  able  to  stir  all  the  day  after,  and  in 
great  pain. 

June  30,  1666. 

Late  to  bed  ;  and,  while  I  was  undressing  myself,  our 
new  ugly  maid  Luce  had  like  to  have  broke  her  neck  in 
the  dark,  going  down  our  upper  stairs  ;  but,  which  I  was 
glad  of,  the  poor  girle  did  only  bruise  her  head,  but  at  first 
did  lie  on  the  ground  groaning,  and  drawing  her  breath, 
like  one  a-dying. 

July  30,  1666. 

Home ;  and  to  sing  with  my  wife  and  Mercer  in  the 
garden  ;  and  coming  in,  I  find  my  wife  plainly  dissatisfied 
with  me,  that  I  can  spend  so  much  time  with  Mercer, 
teaching  her  to  sing,  and  could  never  take  the  pains  with 
her,  which  I  acknowledge  ;  but  it  is  because  that  the  girl 
do  take  musick  mighty  readily,  and  she  do  not,  and  musick 

223 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

is  the  thing  of  the  world  that  I  love  most,  and  all  the 
pleasure  almost  that  I  can  now  take.  So  to  bed,  in  some 
little  discontent,  but  no  words  from  me. 

October  12,  1666. 

My  wife  come  home,  and  hath  brought  her  new  girle  I 
have  helped  her  to,  of  Mr.  Falconbridge's.  She  is  wretched 
poor,  and  but  ordinary  favoured,  and  we  fain  to  lay  out 
seven  or  eight  pounds  worth  of  clothes  upon  her  back, 
which,  methinks,  do  go  against  my  heart ;  and  do  not 
think  I  can  ever  esteem  her  as  I  could  have  done  another, 
that  had  come  fine  and  handsome  ;  and,  which  is  more, 
her  voice,  for  want  of  use,  is  so  furred,  that  it  do  not  at 
present  please  me  ;  but  her  manner  of  singing  is  such,  that 
I  shall,  I  think,  take  great  pleasure  in  it.  Well,  she  is 
come,  and  I  wish  us  good  fortune  in  her. 

April  12,  1667. 

Coming  home,  saw  my  door  and  hatch  open,  left  so  by 
Luce,  our  cookmaid,  which  so  vexed  me,  that  I  did  give 
her  a  kick  in  our  entry,  and  offered  a  blow  at  her,  and 
was  seen  doing  so  by  Sir  W.  Pen's  footboy,  which  did 
vex  me  to  the  heart,  because  I  know  he  will  be  telling 
their  family  of  it. 

September  24,  1667. 

My  wife  tells  me  that  W.  B atelier  hath  been  here 
to-day,  and  brought  with  him  the  pretty  girl  he  speaks 
of,  to  come  to  serve  my  wife  as  a  woman,  out  of  the 
school  at  Bow.  My  wife  says  she  is  extraordinary  hand- 

224 


MR.    PEPYS  AND   HIS   SERVANTS 

some,  and  inclines  to  have  her,  and  I  am  glad  of  it — at 
least,  that  if  we  must  have  one,  she  should  be  handsome. 
But  I  shall  leave  it  wholly  to  my  wife,  to  do  what  she  will 
therein. 

September  27,  1667. 

While  I  was  busy  at  the  Office,  my  wife  sends  for  me 
to  come  home,  and  what  was  it  but  to  see  the  pretty  girl 
which  she  is  taking  to  wait  upon  her  :  and  though  she 
seems  not  altogether  so  great  a  beauty  as  she  had  before 
told  me,  yet  indeed  she  is  mighty  pretty ;  and  so  pretty, 
that  I  find  I  shall  be  too  much  pleased  with  it,  and  there- 
fore could  be  contented  as  to  my  judgment,  though  not 
to  my  passion,  that  she  might  not  come,  lest  I  may  be 
found  too  much  minding  her,  to  the  discontent  of  my 
wife.  She  is  to  come  next  week.  She  seems,  by  her 
discourse,  to  be  grave  beyond  her  bigness  and  age,  and 
exceeding  well  bred  as  to  her  deportment,  having  been  a 
scholar  in  a  school  at  Bow  these  seven  or  eight  years. 

March  29,  1669. 

This  day  my  new  chamber-maid,  that  comes  in  the 
room  of  Jane,  is  come,  Jane  and  Tom  lying  at  their  own 
lodging  this  night  :  the  new  maid's  name  is  Matt,  a 
proper  and  very  comely  maid.  This  day  also  our  cook- 
maid  Bridget  went  away,  which  I  was  sorry  for  j  but, 
just  at  her  going,  she  was  found  to  be  a  thief,  and  so 
I  was  the  less  troubled  for  it ;  but  now  our  whole 
house  will,  in  a  manner,  be  new,  which,  since  Jane  is 
gone,  I  am  not  at  all  sorry  for. 

225  Q 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 


MR.    PEPYS  VIEWS  THE  CORONATION 
OF   CHARLES   II. 

•April  22,  1 66 1. 

The  King's  going  from  the  Tower  to  White  Hall. 
Up  early,  and  made  myself  as  fine  as  I  could,  and  put 
on  my  velvet  coat,  the  first  day  that  I  put  it  on,  though 
made  half  a  year  ago.  And  being  ready,  Sir  W.  Batten, 
my  Lady,  and  his  two  daughters,  and  his  son  and  wife, 
and  Sir  W.  Pen  and  his  son  and  I,  went  to  Mr. 
Young's,  the  flag-maker,  in  Corne-hill ;  and  there  we  had 
a  good  room  to  ourselves,  with  wine  and  good  cake, 
and  saw  the  show  very  well.  In  which  it  is  impossible 
to  relate  the  glory  of  this  day,  expressed  in  the  clothes 
01  them  that  rid,  and  their  horses  and  horse-clothes. 
Among  others,  my  Lord  Sandwich's  embroidery  and 
diamonds  were  not  ordinary  among  them.  The  Knights 
of  the  Bath  was  a  brave  sight  of  itself;  and  their  Esquires, 
among  which  Mr.  Armiger  was  an  Esquire  to  one  of 
the  Knights.  Remarquable  were  the  two  men  that  repre- 
sent the  two  Dukes  of  Normandy  and  Aquitane.  The 
Bishops  come  next  after  Barons,  which  is  the  higher 

226 


MR.    PEPYS   VIEWS  THE    CORONATION 

place ;  which  makes  me  think  that  the  next  Parliament 
they  will  be  called  to  the  House  of  Lords.  My  Lord 
Monk  rode  bare  after  the  King,  and  led  in  his  hand  a 
spare  horse,  as  being  Master  of  the  Horse.  The  King, 
in  a  most  rich  embroidered  suit  and  cloak,  looked  most 
noble.  Wadlow,  the  vintner,  at  the  Devil,  in  Fleet 
Street,  did  lead  a  fine  company  of  soldiers,  all  young, 
comely  men,  in  white  doublets.  There  followed  the 
Vice-Chamberlain,  Sir  G.  Carteret,  a  company  of  men 
all  like  Turkes  ;  but  I  know  not  yet  what  they  are  for. 
The  streets  all  gravelled,  and  the  houses  hung  with 
carpets  before  them,  made  brave  show,  and  the  ladies 
out  of  the  windows.  So  glorious  was  the  show  with 
gold  and  silver,  that  we  were  not  able  to  look  at  it, 
our  eyes  at  last  being  so  much  overcome.  Both  the 
King  and  the  Duke  of  York  took  notice  of  us,  as  they 
saw  us  at  the  window.  In  the  evening,  by  water  to 
White  Hall  to  my  Lord's,  and  there  I  spoke  with  my 
Lord.  He  talked  with  me  about  his  suit,  which  was 
made  in  France,  and  cost  him  ^200,  and  very  rich 
it  is  with  embroidery.  The  show  being  ended,  Mr. 
Young  did  give  us  a  dinner,  at  which  we  very 
merry,  and  pleased  above  imagination  at  what  we  had 
seen.  Sir  W.  Batten  going  home,  he  and  I  called,  and 
drunk  some  wine,  and  laid  our  wager  about  my  Lady 
Faulconbridge's  name,  which  he  says  not  to  be  Mary, 
and  so  I  won  above  2os.  So  home,  where  Will  and  the 
boy  staid,  and  saw  the  show  upon  Towre-hill,  and  Jane 
at  T.  Pepys's  the  Turner,  and  my  wife  at  Charles  Glasse- 
cocke's  in  Fleet  Street. 

227 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

April  23,  1 66 1. 

About  four  I  rose  and  got  to  the  Abbey,  where  I 
followed  Sir  J.  Denham,  the  surveyor,  with  some 
company  he  was  leading  in.  And  with  much  ado,  by 
the  favour  of  Mr.  Cooper,  his  man,  did  get  up  into  a 
great  scaffold  across  the  North  end  of  the  Abbey,  where 
with  a  great  deal  of  patience  I  sat  from  past  four  till 
eleven  before  the  King  come  in.  And  a  great  pleasure 
it  was  to  see  the  Abbey  raised  in  the  middle,  all  covered 
with  red,  and  a  throne  (that  is,  a  chaire)  and  footstoole 
on  the  top  of  it  ;  and  all  the  officers  of  all  kinds,  so 
much  as  the  very  fiddlers,  in  red  vests.  At  last  comes 
in  the  Dean  and  Prebendaries  of  Westminster,  with 
the  Bishops,  (many  of  them  in  cloth  of  gold  copes,)  and 
after  them  the  Nobility,  all  in  their  Parliament  robes, 
which  was  a  most  magnificent  sight.  Then  the  Duke, 
and  the  King  with  a  sceptre *  (carried  by  my  Lord 
Sandwich)  and  sword  and  wand  before  him,  and  the 
crowne  too.  The  King  in  his  robes,  bare-headed,  which 
was  very  fine.  And  after  all1  had  placed  themselves, 
there  was  a  sermon  and  the  service  ;  and  then  in  the 
Quire  at  the  high  altar,  the  King  passed  through  all  the 
ceremonies  of  the  Coronacon,  which  to  my  great  grief 
I  and  most  in  the  Abbey  could  not  see.  The  crowne 
being  put  upon  his  head,  a  great  shout  begun,  and  he 
come  forth  to  the  throne,  and  there  passed  through 
more  ceremonies ;  as  taking  the  oath,  and  having  things 
read  to  him  by  the  Bishopp  ;  and  his  lords  (who  put  on 
their  caps  as  soon  as  the  King  put  on  his  crowne)  and 

1  It  was  St.  Edward's  staff. 
228 


MR.   PEPYS   VIEWS  THE   CORONATION 

bishops  come,  and  kneeled  before  him.  And  three 
times  the  King  at  Armes  went  to  the  three  open  places 
on  the  scaffold,  and  proclaimed,  that  if  any  one  could 
show  any  reason  why  Charles  Stewart  should  not  be 
King  of  England,  that  now  he  should  come  and  speak. 
And  a  Generall  Pardon  also  was  read  by  the  Lord 
Chancellor,  and  meddalls  flung  up  and  down  by  my 
Lord  Cornwallis,  of  silver,  but  I  could  not  come  by  any. 
But  so  great  a  noise  that  I  could  make  but  little  of  the 
musique  ;  and  indeed,  it  was  lost  to  every  body.  I 
went  out  a  little  while  before  the  King  had  done  all  his 
ceremonies,  and  went  round  the  Abbey  to  Westminster 
Hall,  all  the  way  within  rayles,  and  10,000  people  with 
the  ground  covered  with  blue  cloth  ;  and  scaffolds  all  the 
way.  Into  the  Hall  I  got,  where  it  was  very  fine  with 
hangings  and  scaffolds  one  upon  another  full  of  brave 
ladies  ;  and  my  wife  in  one  little  one,  on  the  right 
hand.  Here  I  staid  walking  up  and  down,  and  at  last 
upon  one  of  the  side  stalls  I  stood  and  saw  the  King 
come  in  with  all  the  persons  (but  the  soldiers)  that 
were  yesterday  in  the  cavalcade  ;  and  a  most  pleasant 
sight  it  was  to  see  them  in  their  several  robes.  And  the 
King  come  in  with  his  crowne  on,  and  his  sceptre  in 
his  hand,  under  a  canopy  borne  up  by  six  silver  staves, 
carried  by  Barons  of  the  Cinque  Ports,  and  little  bells 
at  every  end.  And  after  a  long  time,  he  got  up  to  the 
farther  end,  and  all  set  themselves  down  at  their  several 
tables  ;  and  that  was  also  a  brave  sight :  and  the  King's 
first  course  carried  up  by  the  Knights  of  the  Bath. 
And  many  fine  ceremonies  there  was  of  the  Heralds 

229 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF  SAMUEL    PEPYS 

leading  up  people  before  him,  and  bowing  ;  and  my 
Lord  of  Albemarle's  going  to  the  kitchen  and  eating 
a  bit  of  the  first  dish  that  was  to  go  to  the  King's  table. 
But,  above  all,  was  these  three  Lords,  Northumberland, 
and  Suffolke,  and  the  Duke  of  Ormond,  coming  before 
the  courses  on  horseback,  and  staying  so  all  dinner- 
time, and  at  last  bringing  up  [Dymock,]  the  King's 
Champion,  all  in  armour  on  horseback,  with  his  speare 
and  targett  carried  before  him.  And  a  Herald  proclaims 
"  That  if  any  dare  deny  Charles  Stuart  to  be  lawful 
King  of  England,  here  was  a  Champion  that  would  fight 
with  him  ;  "  and  with  these  words,  the  Champion  flings 
down  his  gauntlet,  and  all  this  he  do  three  times  in  his 
going  up  towards  the  King's  table.  To  which,  when 
he  is  come,  the  King  drinks  to  him,  and  then  sends  him 
the  cup,  which  is  of  gold,  and  he  drinks  it  off,  and  then 
rides  back  again  with  the  cup  in  his  hand.  I  went 
from  table  to  table  to  see  the  Bishops  and  all  others  at 
their  dinner,  and  was  infinitely  pleased  with  it.  And  at 
the  Lords'  table,  I  met  with  William  Howe,  and  he 
spoke  to  my  Lord  for  me,  and  he  did  give  him  four 
rabbits  and  a  pullet,  and  so  Mr.  Creed  and  I  got  Mr. 
Minshell  to  give  us  some  bread,  and  so  we  at  a  stall 
eat  it,  as  every  body  else  did  what  they  could  get.  I 
took  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  to  go  up  and  down,  and 
look  upon  the  ladies,  and  to  hear  the  musique  of  all 
sorts,  but  above  all,  the  24  violins.  About  six  at  night 
they  had  dined,  and  I  went  up  to  my  wife.  And 
strange  it  is  to  think,  that  these  two  days  have  held  up 
fair  till  now  that  all  is  done,  and  the  King  gone  out  of 

230 


CHARLES  II. 

From  an  engraving  after  Kneller. 


MR.   PEPYS  VIEWS  THE   CORONATION 

the  Hall ;  and  then  it  fell  a-raining  and  thundering  and 
lightening  as  I  have  not  seen  it   do  for  some  years  : 
which  people  did  take  great  notice  of;  God's  blessing 
of  the  work  of  these  two  days,  which  is  a  foolery  to  take 
too  much  notice  of  such  things.     I  observed  little  dis- 
order in  all  this,  only  the  King's  footmen  had  got  hold 
of  the  canopy,  and  would  keep  it  from  the  Barons  of  the 
Cinque  Ports,  which  they  endeavoured  to  force   from 
them  again,  but  could  not  do  it  till  my  Lord  Duke 
ot  Albemarle  caused  it  to  be  put  into  Sir  R.  Pye's  hand 
till  to-morrow  to   be   decided.     At   Mr.  Bowyer's ;    a 
great  deal  of  company,  some  I  knew,  others  I  did  not. 
Here  we  staid  upon  the  leads  and  below  till  it  was  late, 
expecting  to  see  the  fire-works,  but  they  were  not  per- 
formed to-night  :  only  the  City  had  a  light  like  a  glory 
round  about  it,  with  bonfires.     At  last,  I  went  to  King 
Streete,  and  there  sent  Crockford  to  my  father's  and 
my  house,  to  tell  them  I  could  not  come  home  to-night, 
because  of  the  dirt,  and  a  coach  could  not  be  had.     And 
so  I  took  my  wife  and  Mrs.  Frankleyn  (who  I  profered 
the  civility  of  lying  with  my  wife  at  Mrs.  Hunt's  to- 
night) to  Axeyard,  in  which,  at  the  further  end,  there 
were  three  great  bonfires,  and  a  great  many  gallants, 
men  and  women  ;  and  they  laid  hold  ot  us,  and  would 
have  us  drink  the  King's  health  upon  our  knees,  kneel- 
ing upon  a  faggot,  which  we  all  did,  they  drinking  to  us 
one  after  another,  which  we  thought  a  strange  frolique ; 
but  these  gallants  continued  there  a  great  while,  and  I 
wondered  to  see  how  the  ladies  did  tipple.     At  last,  I 
sent  my  wife  and  her  bedfellow  to  bed,  and  Mr.  Hunt 

231 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

and  I  went  in  with  Mr.  Thornbury  (who  did  give  the 
company  all  their  wine,  he  being  yeoman  of  the  wine- 
cellar  to  the  King)  ;  and  there,  with  his  wife  and  two 
of  his  sisters,  and  some  gallant  sparks  that  were  there, 
we  drank  the  King's  health,  and  nothing  else,  till  one 
of  the  gentlemen  fell  down  stark  drunk,  and  there  lay ; 
and  I  went  to  my  Lord's  pretty  well.  But  no  sooner 
a-bed  with  Mr.  Shepley  but  my  head  began  to  turn, 
and  I  to  vomitt,  and  if  ever  I  was  foxed,  it  was  now, 
which  I  cannot  say  yet,  because  I  fell  asleep,  and  slept 
till  morning.  Thus  did  the  day  end  with  joy  every 
where  ;  and  blessed  be  God,  I  have  not  heard  of  any 
mischance  to  any  body  through  it  all,  but  only  to 
Serjeant  Glynne,  whose  horse  fell  upon  him  yesterday, 
and  is  like  to  kill  him,  which  people  do  please  them- 
selves to  see  how  just  God  is  to  punish  the  rogue  at 
such  a  time  as  this  ;  he  being  now  one  of  the  King's 
Serjeants,  and  rode  in  the  cavalcade  with  Maynard,  to 
whom  people  wish  the  same  fortune.  There  was  also 
this  night,  in  King  Streete,  a  woman  had  her  eye  put 
out  by  a  boy's  flinging  a  firebrand  into  the  coach. 
Now,  after  all  this,  I  can  say,  that,  besides  the  pleasure 
of  the  sight  of  these  glorious  things,  I  may  now  shut 
my  eyes  against  any  other  objects,  nor  for  the  future 
trouble  myself  to  see  things  of  state  and  showe,  as  being 
sure  never  to  see  the  like  again  in  this  world. 


232 


MR.    PEPYS'S   RECORD   OF  THE    PLAGUE 


MR.  PEPYS'S  RECORD  OF  THE  PLAGUE 

April  30,  1665. 

Great  fears  of  the  sicknesse  here  in  the  City,  it  being 
said  that  two  or  three  houses  are  already  shut  up.  God 
preserve  us  all ! 

June  7,  1665. 

This  day,  much  against  my  will,  I  did  in  Drury  Lane 
see  two  or  three  houses  marked  with  a  red  cross  upon 
the  doors,  and  "  Lord  have  mercy  upon  us ! "  writ 
there  ;  which  was  a  sad  sight  to  me,  being  the  first  of 
the  kind  that,  to  my  remembrance,  I  ever  saw.  It  put 
me  into  an  ill  conception  of  myself  and  my  smell,  so  that 
I  was  forced  to  buy  some  roll-tobacco  to  smell  to  and 
chaw,  which  took  away  the  apprehension. 

June  20,  1665. 

This  day  I  informed  myself  that  there  died  four  of 
five  at  Westminster  of  the  plague,  in  several  houses, 
upon  Sunday  last,  in  Bell  Alley,  over  against  the  Palace- 
gate  :  yet  people  do  think  that  the  number  will  be  fewer 
in  the  town  than  it  was  the  last  week. 

233 


RED-LETTER   DAYS  OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

"June  22,  1665. 

In  great  pain  whether  to  send  my  mother  into  the 
country  to-day  or  no  ;  I  hearing,  by  my  people,  that  the 
poor  wretch  hath  a  mind  to  stay  a  little  longer,  and  I 
cannot  blame  her.  At  last,  I  resolved  to  put  it  to  her, 
and  she  agreed  to  go,  because  of  the  sickness  in  town, 
and  my  intentions  of  removing  my  wife.  She  was  to 
the  last  unwilling  to  go,  but  would  not  say  so,  but  put 
it  off  till  she  lost  her  place  in  the  coach,  and  was  fain  to 
ride  in  the  waggon  part. 

June  26,  1665. 

The  plague  encreases  mightily,  I  this  day  seeing  a 
house,  at  a  bitt-maker's,  over  against  St.  Clement's 
Church,  in  the  open  street,  shut  up  :  which  is  a  sad 
sight. 

July  5,  1665. 

By  water  to  Woolwich,  where  I  found  my  wife  come, 
and  her  two  maids,  and  very  prettily  accommodated 
they  will  be ;  and  I  left  them  going  to  supper,  grieved 
in  my  heart  to  part  with  my  wife,  being  worse  by  much 
without  her,  though  some  trouble  there  is  in  having  the 
care  of  a  family  at  home  this  plague  time. 

July  22,  1665. 

To  Fox-hall,  where  to  the  Spring  garden  ;  but  I  do 
not  see  one  guest  there,  the  town  being  so  empty  of  any 
body  to  come  thither.  Only,  while  I  was  there,  a  poor 
woman  come  to  scold  with  the  master  of  the  house  that 

234 


MR.   PEPYS'S   RECORD   OF   THE   PLAGUE 

a  kinswoman,  I  think,  of  her's,  that  was  nearly  dead  of 

the  plague,  might  be  buried  in  the  church-yard  ;  for,  for 

her  part,  she  should  not  be  buried  in  the  commons,  as 

they  said  she  should.     I  by  coach  home,  not  meeting 

with  but  two  coaches  and  but  two  carts  from  White  Hall 

to  my  own  house,  that  I  could  observe,  and  the  streets 

mighty   thin   of  people.     I   met   this   noon   with    Dr. 

Burnett,  who  told  me,  and  I  find  in  the  news-book  this 

week  that  he  posted  upon  the  'Change,  that  whoever  did 

spread  the  report  that,  instead  of  dying  of  the  plague,  his 

servant  was  by  him  killed,  it  was  forgery,  and  shewed  me 

the  acknowledgment  of  the  Master   of  the  pest-house, 

that   his  servant  died   of  a  bubo   on   his   right    groine, 

and   two    spots    on    his    right   thigh,    which    is    the 

plague. 

July  29,  1665. 

At  noon  to  dinner,  where  I  hear  that  my  Will  is  come 
in  thither,  and  laid  down  upon  my  bed,  ill  of  the  headache, 
which  put  me  into  extraordinary  fear  ;  and  I  studied  all 
could  to  get  him  out  of  the  house,  and  set  my  people  to 
work  to  do  it  without  discouraging  him,  and  myself  went 
forth  to  the  Old  Exchange  to  pay  my  fair  Batelier  for 
some  linnen,  and  took  leave  of  her,  they  breaking  up  shop 
for  a  while  :  and  so  by  coach  to  Kate  Joyce's,  and  there 
used  all  the  vehemence  and  rhetorique  I  could  to  get  her 
husband  to  let  her  go  down  to  Brampton,  but  I  could  not 
prevail  with  him  ;  he  urging  some  simple  reasons,  but 
most  that  of  profit,  minding  the  house,  and  the  distance, 
if  either  of  them  should  be  ill.     However,  I  did  my  best, 

235 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

and  more  than  I  had  a  mind  to  do,  but  that  I  saw  him  so 
resolved  against  it,  while  she  was  mightily  troubled  at  it. 
At  last,  he  yielded  she  should  go  to  Windsor,  to  some 
friends  there  :  so  I  took  my  leave  of  them,  believing  it  is 
great  odds  that  we  ever  all  see  one  another  again  ;  for  I 
dare  not  go  any  more  to  that  end  of  the  town.  Will  is 
gone  to  his  lodging,  and  is  likely  to  do  well,  it  being 
only  the  headache. 

July  30,  1665. 

(Lord's  day.)  Up,  and  in  my  night-gown,  cap,  and 
neckcloth,  undressed,  all  day  long — lost  not  a  minute, 
but  in  my  chamber,  setting  my  Tangier  accounts  to 
rights.  Will  is  very  well  again.  It  was  a  sad  noise  to 
hear  our  bell  to  toll  and  ring  so  often  to-day,  either  for 
deaths  or  burials ;  I  think,  five  or  six  times. 

August  3,  1665. 

Up,  and  betimes  to  Deptford  to  Sir  G.  Carteret's, 
where,  not  knowing  the  horse  which  had  been  hired  by 
Mr.  Unthwayt  for  me,  I  did  desire  Sir  G.  Carteret  to 
let  me  ride  his  new  ^40  horse  ;  and  so  to  the  ferry,  where 
I  was  forced  to  stay  a  great  while  before  I  could  get  my 
horse  brought  over,  and  then  mounted,  and  rode  very 
finely  to  Dagenhams  ;  all  the  way,  people,  citizens,  walk- 
ing to  and  fro,  enquire  how  the  plague  is  in  the  City  this 
week  by  the  Bill ;  which,  by  chance,  at  Greenwich,  I 
had  heard  was  2,020  of  the  plague,  and  3,000  and  odd, 
of  all  diseases ;  but  methought  it  was  a  sad  question  to  be 
so  often  asked  me. 

236 


MR.   PEPYS'S   RECORD   OF   THE   PLAGUE 

August  3,  1665. 

[I  am  told]  how  a  maid  servant  of  Mr.  John  Wright's, 
who  lives  thereabouts,  falling  sick  of  the  plague,  she  was 
removed  to  an  outhouse,  and  a  nurse  appointed  to  look 
to  her  ;  who,  being  once  absent,  the  maid  got  out  of 
the  house  at  the  window,  and  run  away.  The  nurse 
coming  and  knocking,  and,  having  no  answer,  believed 
she  was  dead,  and  went  and  told  Mr.  Wright  so  ;  who 
and  his  lady  were  in  great  straight  what  to  do  to  get 
her  buried.  At  last,  resolved  to  go  to  Burntwood,  hard 
by,  being  in  the  parish,  and  there  get  people  to  do  it. 
But  they  would  not :  so  he  went  home  full  of  trouble, 
and  in  the  way  met  the  wench  walking  over  the  com- 
mon, which  frightened  him  worse  than  before  ;  and  was 
forced  to  send  people  to  take  her,  which  he  did  ;  and  they 
got  one  of  the  pest-coaches,  and  put  her  into  it,  to  carry 
her  to  a  pest-house.  And,  passing  in  a  narrow  lane,  Sir 
Anthony  Browne,  with  his  brother  and  some  friends  in 
the  coach,  met  this  coach  with  the  curtains  drawn  close. 
The  brother,  being  a  young  man,  and  believing  there 
might  be  some  lady  in  it  that  would  not  be  seen,  and  the 
way  being  narrow,  he  thrust  his  head  out  of  his  own  into 
her  coach,  and  to  look,  and  there  saw  somebody  looking 
very  ill,  and  in  a  silk  dress,  and  stunk  mightily  ;  which 
the  coachman  also  cried  out  upon.  And  presently  they 
come  up  to  some  people  that  stood  looking  after  it,  and 
told  our  gallants  that  it  was  a  maid  of  Mr.  Wright's 
carried  away  sick  of  the  plague ;  which  put  the  young 
gentleman  into  a  fright  had  almost  cost  him  his  life,  but 
he  is  now  well  again. 

237 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

August  10,  1665. 

By  and  by  to  the  office,  where  we  sat  all  the  morning  j 
in  great  trouble  to  see  the  Bill  this  week  rise  so  high, 
to  above  4,000  in  all,  and  of  them  above  3,000  of  the 
plague.  Home,  to  draw  over  anew  my  will,  which  I  had 
bound  myself  by  oath  to  dispatch  by  to-morrow  night ; 
the  town  growing  so  unhealthy,  that  a  man  cannot 
depend  upon  living  two  days. 

August  15,  1665. 

It  was  dark  before  I  could  get  home,  and  so  land  at 
Church-yard  stairs,  where,  to  my  great  trouble,  I  met  a 
dead  corps  of  the  plague,  in  the  narrow  alley,  just  bring- 
ing down  a  little  pair  of  stairs.  But  I  thank  God  I  was 
not  much  disturbed  at  it.  However,  I  shall  beware  of 
being  late  abroad  again. 

August  1 6,  1665. 

To  the  Exchange,  where  I  have  not  been  a  great 
while.  But,  Lord !  how  sad  a  sight  it  is  to  see  the 
streets  empty  of  people,  and  very  few  upon  the  'Change  ! 
Jealous  of  every  door  that  one  sees  shut  up,  lest  it  should 
be  the  plague  ;  and  about  us  two  shops  in  three,  if  not 
more,  generally  shut  up.  This  day,  I  had  the  ill  news 
from  Dagenhams,  that  my  poor  Lord  of  Hinchingbroke 
his  indisposition  is  turned  to  the  small-pox.  Poor  gentle- 
man !  that  he  should  be  come  from  France  so  soon  to 
fall  sick,  and  of  that  disease  too,  when  he  should  be  gone 
to  see  a  fine  lady,  his  mistress !  I  am  most  heartily  sorry 
for  it. 


MR.    PEPYS'S   RECORD   OF    THE   PLAGUE 

August  20,  1665. 

After  church,  to  my  inn,  and  eat  and  drank,  and  so 
about  seven  o'clock  by  water,  and  got,  between  nine  and 
ten,  to  Queenhive,  very  dark  ;  and  I  could  not  get  my 
waterman  to  go  elsewhere,  for  fear  of  the  plague.  Thence 
with  a  lanthorn,  in  great  fear  of  meeting  of  dead  corpses, 
carrying  to  be  buried  ;  but,  blessed  be  God  !  met  none, 
but  did  see  now  and  then  a  link,  which  is  the  mark  of 
them,  at  a  distance. 

August  22,  1665. 

Walked  to  Greenwich,  in  my  way  seeing  a  coffin  with 
a  dead  body  therein,  dead  of  the  plague,  lying  in  an  open 
close  belonging  to  Coome  farme,  which  was  carried  out 
last  night,  and  the  parish  have  not  appointed  any  body 
to  bury  it  ;  but  only  set  a  watch  there  all  day  and  night, 
that  nobody  should  go  thither  or  come  thence  :  this  disease 
making  us  more  cruel  to  one  another  than  we  are  to  dogs. 
Walked  to  RedrifFe,  troubled  to  go  through  the  little  lane 
where  the  plague  is,  but  did,  and  took  water  and  home, 
where  all  well. 

August  25,  1665. 

This  day  I  am  told  that  Dr.  Burnett,  my  physician,  is 
this  morning  dead  of  the  plague  ;  which  is  strange,  his 
man  dying  so  long  ago,  and  his  house  this  month  open 
again.  Now  himself  dead.  Poor  unfortunate  man  ! 

August  31,  1665. 

Up  :  and,  after  putting  several  things  in  order  to  my 
removal,  to  Woolwich ;  the  plague  having  a  great  encrease 

239 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

this  week,  beyond  all  expectation,  of  almost  2,000,  making 
the  general  Bill  7,000,  odd  100  ;  and  the  plague  above 
6,000.  Thus  this  month  ends  with  great  sadness  upon  the 
publick,  through  the  greatness  of  the  plague  everywhere 
through  the  kingdom  almost.  Every  day  sadder  and 
sadder  news  of  its  encrease.  In  the  City  died  this  week 
7,496,  and  of  them  6,102  of  the  plague.  But  it  is  feared 
that  the  true  number  of  the  dead  this  week  is  near  10,000 ; 
partly  from  the  poor  that  cannot  be  taken  notice  of, 
through  the  greatness  of  the  number,  and  partly  from  the 
Quakers  and  others  that  will  not  have  any  bell  ring  for 
them. 

August  31,  1665. 

As  to  myself,  I  am  very  well,  only  in  fear  of  the  plague, 
and  as  much  of  an  ague,  by  being  forced  to  go  early  and 
late  to  Woolwich,  and  my  family  to  lie  there  continually. 

September  3,  1665. 

(Lord's  day.)  Up,  and  put  on  my  coloured  silk  suit 
very  fine,  and  my  new  periwigg,  bought  a  good  while 
since,  but  durst  not  wear,  because  the  plague  was  in 
Westminster  when  I  bought  it ;  and  it  is  a  wonder  what 
will  be  the  fashion  after  the  plague  is  done,  as  to  peri- 
wiggs,  for  nobody  will  dare  to  buy  any  haire,  for  fear  of 
the  infection,  that  it  had  been  cut  off  the  heads  of  people 
dead  of  the  plague. 

September  2O,  1665. 

Lord  !  what  a  sad  time  it  is  to  see  no  boats  upon  the 
river  ;  and  grass  grows  all  up  and  down  White  Hall 

240 


MR.   PEPYS'S   RECORD    OF   THE    PLAGUE 

court,  and  nobody  but  poor  wretches  in  the  streets  ! 
And,  which  is  worst  of  all,  the  Duke  showed  us  the 
number  of  the  plague  this  week,  brought  in  the  last  night 
from  the  Lord  Mayor ;  that  it  is  encreased  about  600 
more  than  the  last,  which  is  quite  contrary  to  our  hopes 
and  expectations,  from  the  coldness  of  the  late  season. 
For  the  whole  general  number  is  8,297,  an^  °f  them  the 
plague  7,165  ;  which  is  more  in  the  whole,  by  above  50, 
than  the  biggest  Bill  yet  :  which  is  very  grievous  to  us 
all.  I  find  Sir  W.  Batten  and  his  lady  gone  home  to 
Walthamstow,  with  some  necessity,  hearing  that  a  maid- 
servant of  their's  is  taken  ill. 

October  4,  1665. 

This  night  comes  Sir  George  Smith  to  see  me  at  the 
office,  and  tells  me  how  the  plague  is  decreased  this  week 
740,  for  which  God  be  praised  !  but  that  it  encreases  at 
our  end  of  the  town  still. 

November  15,  1665. 

The  plague,  blessed  be  God !  is  decreased  400 ;  making 
the  whole  this  week  about  1,300  and  odd :  for  which  the 
Lord  be  praised. 

'January  22,  1665—66. 

The  first  meeting  of  Gresham  College  since  the  plague. 
Dr.  Goddard  did  fill  us  with  talk,  in  defence  of  his  and  his 
fellow  physicians  going  out  of  town  in  the  plague-time  ; 
saying,  that  their  particular  patients  were  most  gone  out 
of  town,  and  they  left  at  liberty  ;  and  a  great  deal  more. 

241  R 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

February  12,  1665—66. 

Comes  Mr.  Caesar,  my  boy's  lute-master,  whom  I 
have  not  seen  since  the  plague  before,  but  he  hath 
been  in  Westminster  all  this  while,  very  well ;  and 
tells  me,  in  the  height  of  it,  how  bold  people  there 
were,  to  go  in  sport  to  one  another's  burials ;  and  in 
spite,  too,  ill  people  would  breathe  in  the  faces,  out  of 
their  windows,  of  well  people  going  by. 


242 


MR.   PEPYS'S   ACCOUNT   OF   THE   GREAT   FIRE 


MR.   PEPYS'S  ACCOUNT   OF  THE 
GREAT   FIRE  OF   LONDON 

September  2,  1666. 

(Lord's  day.)  Some  of  our  maids  sitting  up  late  last 
night  to  get  things  ready  against  our  feast  to-day,  Jane 
called  us  up  about  three  in  the  morning,  to  tell  us  of  a 
great  fire  they  saw  in  the  City.  So  I  rose,  and  slipped 
on  my  night-gown,  and  went  to  her  window ;  and 
thought  it  to  be  on  the  back-side  of  Marke-lane  at  the 
farthest;  but,  being  unused  to  such  fires  as  followed,  I 
thought  it  far  enough  off;  and  so  went  to  bed  again, 
and  to  sleep.  About  seven  rose  again  to  dress  myself, 
and  there  looked  out  at  the  window,  and  saw  the  fire  not 
so  much  as  it  was,  and  further  off.  So  to  my  closet  to 
set  things  to  rights,  after  yesterday's  cleaning.  By  and 
by  Jane  comes  and  tells  me  that  she  hears  that  above 
300  houses  have  been  burned  down  to-night  by  the  fire 
we  saw,  and  that  it  is  now  burning  down  all  Fish  Street, 
by  London  Bridge.  So  I  made  myself  ready  presently, 
and  walked  to  the  Tower  ;  and  there  got  up  upon  one 
of  the  high  places,  Sir  J.  Robinson's  little  son  going  up 
with  me  ;  and  there  I  did  see  the  'houses  at  that  end  of 

243 


RED-LETTER   DAYS    OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

the  bridge  all  on  fire,  and  an  infinite  great  fire  on  this 
and  the  other  side  the  end  of  the  bridge  ;  which,  among 
other  people,  did  trouble  me  for  poor  little  Michell  and 
our  Sarah  on  the  bridge.  So  down,  with  my  heart  full 
of  trouble,  to  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Tower,  who  tells  me 
that  it  begun  this  morning  in  the  King's  baker's  house  in 
Pudding-lane,  and  that  it  hath  burned  down  St.  Magnus's 
Church  and  most  part  of  Fish  Street  already.  So  I  down 
to  the  water-side,  and  there  got  a  boat,  and  through 
bridge,  and  there  saw  a  lamentable  fire.  Poor  Michell's 
house,  as  far  as  the  Old  Swan,  already  burned  that  way, 
and  the  fire  running  further,  that,  in  a  very  little  time, 
it  got  as  far  as  the  Steele-yard,  while  I  was  there. 
Every  body  endeavouring  to  remove  their  goods,  and 
flinging  into  the  river,  or  bringing  them  into  lighters 
that  lay  off;  poor  people  staying  in  their  houses  as  long 
as  till  the  very  fire  touched  them,  and  then  running  into 
boats,  or  clambering  from  one  pair  of  stairs,  by  the  water- 
side, to  another.  And,  among  other  things,  the  poor 
pigeons,  I  perceive,  were  loth  to  leave  their  houses,  but 
hovered  about  the  windows  and  balconys,  till  they  burned 
their  wings  and  fell  down.  Having  staid,  and  in  an 
hour's  time  seen  the  fire  rage  every  way  ;  and  nobody, 
to  my  sight,  endeavouring  to  quench  it,  but  to  remove 
their  goods,  and  leave  all  to  the  fire  ;  and,  having  seen 
it  get  as  far  as  the  Steele-yard,  and  the  wind  mighty  high, 
and  driving  it  into  the  City  ;  and  everything,  after  so 
long  a  drought,  proving  combustible,  even  the  very  stones 
of  churches  ;  and,  among  other  things,  the  poor  steeple 

by  which  pretty  Mrs. lives,  and  whereof  my  old 

244 


MR.    PEPYS'S   ACCOUNT   OF    THE   GREAT   FIRE 

schoolfellow  Elborough  is  parson,  taken  fire  in  the  very 
top,  and  there  burned  till  it  fell  down  ;  I  to  White  Hall, 
with  a  gentleman  with  me,  who  desired  to  go  off  from 
the  Tower,  to  see  the  fire,  in  my  boat ;  and  there  up  to 
the  King's  closet  in  the  Chapel,  where  people  come 
about  me,  and  I  did  give  them  an  account  dismayed  them 
all,  and  word  was  carried  in  to  the  King.  So  I  was 
called  for,  and  did  tell  the  King  and  Duke  of  York 
what  I  saw ;  and  that,  unless  his  Majesty  did  command 
houses  to  be  pulled  down,  nothing  could  stop  the  fire. 
They  seemed  much  troubled,  and  the  King  commanded 
me  to  go  to  my  Lord  Mayor  from  him,  and  command 
him  to  spare  no  houses,  but  to  pull  down  before  the  fire 
every  way.  The  Duke  of  York  bid  me  tell  him,  that 
if  he  would  have  any  more  soldiers,  he  shall ;  and  so  did 
my  Lord  Arlington  afterwards,  as  a  great  secret.  Here 
meeting  with  Captain  Cocke,  I  in  his  coach,  which  he 
lent  me,  and  Creed  with  me  to  Paul's ;  and  there  walked 
along  Watling  Street,  as  well  as  I  could,  every  creature 
coming  away  loaden  with  goods  to  save,  and,  here  and 
there,  sick  people  carried  away  in  beds.  Extraordinary 
good  goods  carried  in  carts  and  on  backs.  At  last  met 
my  Lord  Mayor  in  Canning  Street,  like  a  man  spent, 
with  a  handkercher  about  his  neck.  To  the  King's 
message,  he  cried,  like  a  fainting  woman,  "  Lord  !  what 
can  I  do  ?  I  am  spent :  people  will  not  obey  me.  I 
have  been  pulling  down  houses  ;  but  the  fire  overtakes 
us  faster  than  we  can  do  it."  That  he  needed  no  more 
soldiers ;  and  that,  for  himself,  he  must  go  and  refresh 
himself,  having  been  up  all  night.  So  he  left  me,  and  I 

245 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

him,  and  walked  home  ;  seeing  people  all  almost  dis- 
tracted, and  no  manner  or  means  used  to  quench  the  fire. 
The  houses,  too,  so  very  thick  thereabouts,  and  full  of 
matter  for  burning,  as  pitch  and  tar,  in  Thames  Street  ; 
and  warehouses  of  oyle,  and  wines,  and  brandy,  and  other 
things.  Here  I  saw  Mr.  Isaac  Houblon,  the  handsome 
man,  prettily  dressed  and  dirty  at  his  door  at  Dowgate, 
receiving  some  of  his  brother's  things,  whose  houses  were 
on  fire ;  and,  as  he  says,  have  been  removed  twice  already ; 
and  he  doubts,  as  it  soon  proved,  that  they  must  be,  in  a 
little  time,  removed  from  his  house  also,  which  was  a  sad 
consideration.  And  to  see  the  churches  all  filling  with 
goods  by  people  who  themselves  should  have  been  quietly 
there  at  this  time.  By  this  time,  it  was  about  twelve 
o'clock ;  and  so  home,  and  there  find  my  guests,  who 
were  Mr.  Wood  and  his  wife  Barbary  Shelden,  and  also 
Mr.  Moone :  she  mighty  fine,  and  her  husband,  for 
aught  I  see,  a  likely  man.  But  Mr.  Moone's  design  and 
mine,  which  was  to  look  over  my  closet,  and  please  him 
with  the  sight  thereof,  which  he  hath  long  desired,  was 
wholly  disappointed  ;  for  we  were  in  great  trouble  and 
disturbance  at  this  fire,  not  knowing  what  to  think  of 
it.  However,  we  had  an  extraordinary  good  dinner,  and 
as  merry  as  at  this  time  we  could  be.  While  at  dinner, 
Mrs.  Batelier  come  to  enquire  after  Mr.  Woolfe  and 
Stanes,  who,  it  seems,  are  related  to  them,  whose  houses 
in  Fish  Street  are  all  burned,  and  they  in  a  sad  condition. 
She  would  not  stay  in  the  fright.  Soon  as  dined,  I  and 
Moone  away,  and  walked  through  the  City,  the  streets 
full  of  nothing  but  people ;  and  horses  and  carts  loaden 

246 


MR.   PEPYS'S  ACCOUNT   OF    THE    GREAT  FIRE 

with  goods,  ready  to  run  over  one  another,  and  removing 
goods  from  one  burned  house  to  another.     They  now 
removing  out  of  Canning  Street,  which  received  goods 
in  the  morning,  into  Lumbard  Street,  and  further  :  and, 
among  others,   I  now  saw  my  little  goldsmith  Stokes, 
receiving  some  friend's  goods,  whose  house  itself  was 
burned  the  day  after.     We  parted  at  Paul's  ;  he  home, 
and  I  to  Paul's  Wharf,  where  I  had  appointed  a  boat  to 
attend  me,  and  took  in  Mr.  Carcasse  and  his  brother, 
whom  I  met  in  the  street,  and  carried  them  below  and 
above  bridge  too.     And  again  to  see  the  fire,  which  was 
now  got  further,  both  below  and  above,  and  no  likelihood 
of  stopping  it.     Met  with  the  King  and  Duke  of  York 
in  their  barge,  and  with  them  to  Queenhithe,  and  there 
called  Sir  Richard  Browne  to  them.     Their  order  was 
only  to  pull  down  houses  apace,  and  so  below  bridge  at 
the  water-side  ;  but  this  little  was  or  could  be  done,  the 
fire  coming  upon  them  so  fast.     Good  hopes  there  was 
of  stopping  it  at  the  Three  Cranes  above,  and  at  Buttulph's 
Wharf  below  bridge,  if  care  be  used ;  but  the  wind  carries 
it  into  the  City,  so  as  we  know  not,  by  the  water-side, 
what  it  do  there.     River  full  of  lighters  and  boats  taking 
in  goods,  and  good  goods  swimming  in  the  water  ;  and 
only  I  observed  that  hardly  one  lighter  or  boat  in  three 
that  had  the  goods  or  a  house  in,  but  there  was  a  pair  of 
Virginalls  J  in  it.     Having  seen  as  much  as  I  could  now, 
I  away  to  White  Hall  by  appointment,  and  there  walked 
to  St.  James's  Park  ;  and  there  met  my  wife,  and  Creed, 
and  Wood,  and  his  wife,  and  walked  to  my  boat ;  and 

1  A  sort  of  spinet,  so  called  from  young  women  playing  upon  it. 
247 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

there  upon  the  water  again,  and  to  the  fire  up  and  down, 
it  still  encreasing,  and  the  wind  great.  So  near  the  fire 
as  we  could  for  smoke  ;  and  all  over  the  Thames,  with 
one's  faces  in  the  wind,  you  were  almost  burned  with  a 
shower  of  fire-drops.  This  is  very  true  :  so  as  houses 
were  burned  by  these  drops  and  flakes  of  fire,  three  or 
four,  nay,  five  or  six  houses,  one  from  another.  When 
we  could  endure  no  more  upon  the  water,  we  to  a  little 
alehouse  on  the  Bankside,  over  against  the  Three  Cranes, 
and  there  staid  till  it  was  dark  almost,  and  saw  the  fire 
grow ;  and,  as  it  grew  darker,  appeared  more  and  more ; 
and  in  corners  and  upon  steeples,  and  between  churches 
and  houses,  as  far  as  we  could  see  up  the  hill  of  the  City, 
in  a  most  horrid,  malicious,  bloody  flame,  not  like  the  fine 
flame  of  an  ordinary  fire.  Barbary  and  her  husband  away 
before  us.  We  staid  till,  it  being  darkish,  we  saw  the 
fire  as  only  one  entire  arch  of  fire  from  this  to  the  other 
side  the  bridge,  and  in  a  bow  up  the  hill  for  an  arch  of 
above  a  mile  long  :  it  made  me  weep  to  see  it.  The 
churches,  houses,  and  all  on  fire,  and  flaming  at  once  ; 
and  a  horrid  noise  the  flames  made,  and  the  cracking  of 
houses  at  their  ruine.  So  home  with  a  sad  heart,  and 
there  find  every  body  discoursing  and  lamenting  the  fire ; 
and  poor  Tom  Hater  come  with  some  few  of  his  goods 
saved  out  of  his  house,  which  was  burned  upon  Fish  Street 
Hill.  I  invited  him  to  lie  at  my  house,  and  did  receive 
his  goods  ;  but  was  deceived  in  his  lying  there,  the  news 
coming  every  moment  of  the  growth  of  the  fire ;  so  as 
we  were  forced  to  begin  to  pack  up  our  own  goods,  and 
prepare  for  their  removal  ;  and  did  by  moonshine,  it 

248 


MR.   PEPYS'S   ACCOUNT   OF  THE   GREAT    FIRE 

being  brave,  dry,  and  moonshine  and  warm  weather, 
carry  much  of  my  goods  into  the  garden  ;  and  Mr.  Hater 
and  I  did  remove  my  money  and  iron  chests  into  my 
cellar,  as  thinking  that  the  safest  place.  And  got  my 
bags  of  gold  into  my  office,  ready  to  carry  away,  and  my 
chief  papers  of  accounts  also  there,  and  my  tallies  into 
a  box  by  themselves.  So  great  was  our  fear,  as  Sir  W. 
Batten  hath  carts  come  out  of  the  country  to  fetch  away 
his  goods  this  night.  We  did  put  Mr.  Hater,  poor 
man  !  to  bed  a  little  ;  but  he  got  but  very  little  rest, 
so  much  noise  being  in  my  house,  taking  down  of 
goods. 

September  3,  1666. 

About  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  my  Lady  Batten 
sent  me  a  cart  to  carry  away  all  my  money,  and  plate, 
and  best  things,  to  Sir  W.  Rider's  at  Bednall  Greene, 
which  I  did,  riding  myself  in  my  night-gown,  in  the 
cart ;  and,  Lord  !  to  see  how  the  streets  and  the  high- 
ways are  crowded  with  people,  running  and  riding,  and 
getting  of  carts  at  any  rate  to  fetch  away  things.  I  find 
Sir  W.  Rider  tired  with  being  called  up  all  night,  and 
receiving  things  from  several  friends.  His  house  full  of 
goods,  and  much  of  Sir  W.  Batten's  and  Sir  W.  Pen's. 
I  am  eased  at  my  heart  to  have  my  treasure  so  well 
secured.  Then  home,  and  with  much  ado  to  find  a  way, 
nor  any  sleep  all  this  night  to  me  nor  my  poor  wife.  But 
then  all  this  day  she  and  I  and  all  my  people  labouring 
to  get  away  the  rest  of  our  things,  and  did  get  Mr. 
Tooker  to  get  me  a  lighter  to  take  them  in,  and  we  did 

249 


RED-LETTER    DAYS  OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

carry  them,  myself  some,  over  Tower  Hill,  which  was 
by  this  time  full  of  people's  goods,  bringing  their  goods 
thither  ;  and  down  to  the  lighter,  which  lay  at  the  next 
quay,  above  the  Tower  Dock.  And  here  was  my 

neighbour's  wife,  Mrs. ,  with  her  pretty  child,  and 

some  few  of  her  things,  which  I  did  willingly  give  way 
to  be  saved  with  mine  ;  but  there  was  no  passing  with 
any  thing  through  the  postern,  the  crowd  was  so  great. 
The  Duke  of  York  come  this  day  by  the  office,  and 
spoke  to  us,  and  did  ride  with  his  guard  up  and  down 
the  City  to  keep  all  quiet,  he  being  now  General,  and 
having  the  care  of  all.  This  day,  Mercer  being  not  at 
home,  but  against  her  mistress's  order  gone  to  her 
mother's,  and  my  wife  going  thither  to  speak  with 
W.  Hewer,  beat  her  there,  and  was  angry  ;  and  her 
mother  saying  that  she  was  not  a  'prentice  girl,  to  ask 
leave  every  time  she  goes  abroad,  my  wife  with  good 
reason  was  angry  ;  and,  when  she  come  home,  did  bid 
her  be  gone  again.  And  so  she  went  away,  which 
troubled  me,  but  yet  less  than  it  would,  because  of  the 
condition  we  are  in,  in  fear  of  coming  in  a  little  time  to 
being  less  able  to  keep  one  in  her  quality.  At  night, 
lay  down  a  little  upon  a  quilt  of  W.  Hewer's  in  the 
office,  all  my  own  things  being  packed  up  or  gone ; 
and,  after  me,  my  poor  wife  did  the  like,  we  having 
fed  upon  the  remains  of  yesterday's  dinner,  having  no 
fire  nor  dishes,  nor  any  opportunity  of  dressing  any 
thing. 


250 


MR.   PEPYS'S   ACCOUNT  OF    THE    GREAT    FIRE 

September  4,  1666. 

Up  by  break  of  day,  to  get  away  the  remainder 
of  my  things  ;  which  I  did  by  a  lighter  at  the  Iron 
gate  :  and  my  hands  so  full,  that  it  was  the  afternoon 
before  we  could  get  them  all  away.  Sir  W.  Pen  and  I 
to  the  Tower  Street,  and  there  met  the  fire  burning, 
three  or  four  doors  beyond  Mr.  Howell's,  whose  goods, 
poor  man,  his  trayes,  and  dishes,  shovells,  &c.,  were  flung 
all  along  Tower  Street  in  the  kennels,  and  people 
working  therewith  from  one  end  to  the  other  ;  the 
fire  coming  on  in  that  narrow  street,  on  both  sides,  with 
infinite  fury.  Sir  W.  Batten  not  knowing  how  to 
remove  his  wine,  did  dig  a  pit  in  the  garden,  and  laid 
it  in  there  ;  and  I  took  the  opportunity  of  laying  all 
the  papers  of  my  office  that  I  could  not  otherwise  dispose 
of.  And  in  the  evening  Sir  W.  Pen  and  I  did  dig 
another,  and  put  our  wine  in  it ;  and  I  my  parmazan 
cheese,  as  well  as  my  wine  and  some  other  things.  The 
Duke  of  York  was  at  the  office  this  day,  at  Sir  W.  Pen's ; 
but  I  happened  not  to  be  within.  This  afternoon,  sitting 
melancholy  with  Sir  W.  Pen  in  our  garden,  and  thinking 
of  the  certain  burning  of  this  office,  without  extraordinary 
means,  I  did  propose  for  the  sending  up  of  all  our  work- 
men from  the  Woolwich  and  Deptford  yards,  none 
whereof  yet  appeared,  and  to  write  to  Sir  W.  Coventry 
to  have  the  Duke  of  York's  permission  to  pull  down 
houses,  rather  than  lose  this  office,  which  would  much 
hinder  the  King's  business.  So  Sir  W.  Pen  went  down 
this  night,  in  order  to  the  sending  them  up  to-morrow 
morning ;  and  I  wrote  to  Sir  W.  Coventry  about  the 

251 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

business,1  but  received  no  answer.  This  night,  Mrs. 
Turner,  who,  poor  woman,  was  removing  her  goods 
all  this  day,  good  goods,  into  the  garden,  and  knows 
not  how  to  dispose  of  them,  and  her  husband  supped 
with  my  wife  and  me  at  night,  in  the  office,  upon  a 
shoulder  of  mutton  from  the  cook's  without  any  napkin, 
or  any  thing,  in  a  sad  manner,  but  were  merry.  Only 
now  and  then,  walking  into  the  garden,  saw  how  horribly 
the  sky  looks,  all  on  a  fire  in  the  night,  was  enough  to 
put  us  out  of  our  wits ;  and,  indeed,  it  was  extremely 
dreadful,  for  it  looks  just  as  if  it  was  at  us,  and  the  whole 
heaven  on  fire.  I  after  supper  walked  in  the  dark  down 
to  Tower  Street,  and  there  saw  it  all  on  fire,  at  the 
Trinity  House  on  that  side,  and  the  Dolphin  Tavern  on 
this  side,  which  was  very  near  us  ;  and  the  fire  with 
extraordinary  vehemence.  Now  begins  the  practice  of 
blowing  up  of  houses  in  Tower  Street,  those  next  the 

1  The  letter,  among  the  Pepys  AfSS.,  was  as  follows : — 

Sir, — The  fire  is  now  very  neere  us,  as  well  on  Tower  Streete  as  Fan- 
church  Street  side,  and  we  little  hope  of  our  escape  but  by  that  remedy,  to 
y6  want  whereof  we  doe  certainly  owe  y6  loss  of  ye  City,  namely,  ye  pulling 
down  of  houses  in  y6  way  of  ye  fire.  This  way  Sir  W.  Pen  and  myself 
have  so  far  concluded  upon  y6  practising,  that  he  is  gone  to  Woolwich 
and  Deptford  to  supply  himself  with  men  and  necessaries  in  order  to  the 
doeing  thereof ;  in  case,  at  his  returne,  our  condition  be  not  bettered, 
and  that  he  meets  with  his  R.  Hs  approbation,  which  I  have  thus 
undertaken  to  learn  of  you.  Pray  please  to  let  me  have  this  night, 
at  whatever  hour  it  is,  what  his  R.  Hs  directions  are  in  this  parti- 
cular. Sir  J.  Minnes  and  Sir  W.  Batten  having  left  us,  we  cannot  add, 
though  we  are  well  assured  of  their,  as  well  as  all  y6  neighbourhood's 

concurrence. 

Yr  obedient  Servnt. 

Sir  W.  Coventry,  S.  P. 

Septr.  4,  1666. 

252 


MR.   PEPYS'S   ACCOUNT  OF    THE    GREAT   FIRE 

Tower,  which  at  first  did  frighten  people  more  than  any 
thing ;  but  it  stopped  the  fire  where  it  was  done,  it 
bringing  down  the  houses  to  the  ground  in  the  same 
places  they  stood,  and  then  it  was  easy  to  quench  what 
little  fire  was  in  it,  though  it  kindled  nothing  almost. 
W.  Hewer  this  day  went  to  see  how  his  mother  did,  and 
comes  late  home,  telling  us  how  he  hath  been  forced  to 
remove  her  to  Islington,  her  house  in  Pye  Corner  being 
burned  ;  so  that  the  fire  is  got  so  far  that  way,  and  to 
the  Old  Bayly,  and  was  running  down  to  Fleet  Street ; 
and  Paul's  is  burned,  and  all  Cheapside.  I  wrote  to  my 
father  this  night,  but  the  post-house  being  burned,  the 
letter  could  not  go. 

September  5,  1 666. 

I  lay  down  in  the  office  again  upon  W.  Hewer's  quilt, 
being  mighty  weary,  and  sore  in  my  feet  with  going  till 
I  was  hardly  able  to  stand.  About  two  in  the  morning 
my  wife  calls  me  up,  and  tells  me  of  new  cryes  of  fire, 
it  being  come  to  Barking  Church,  which  is  the  bottom 
of  our  lane.1  I  up  ;  and  finding  it  so,  resolved  presently 
to  take  her  away,  and  did,  and  took  my  gold,  which  was 
about  ,£ 2,350,  W.  Hewer  and  Jane  down  by  Proundy's 
boat  to  Woolwich  ;  but,  Lord  !  what  a  sad  sight  it  was 
by  moone-light,  to  see  the  whole  City  almost  on  fire,  that 
you  might  see  it  as  plain  at  Woolwich,  as  if  you  were 
by  it.  There,  when  I  come,  I  find  the  gates  shut,  but 
no  guard  kept  at  all  ;  which  troubled  me,  because  of 
discourses  now  begun,  that  there  is  a  plot  in  it,  and  that 

1  Seething  Lane. 
253 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

the  French  had  done  it.  I  got  the  gates  open,  and  to 
Mr.  Shelden's,  where  I  locked  up  my  gold,  and  charged 
my  wife  and  W.  Hewer  never  to  leave  the  room  without 
one  of  them  in  it,  night  or  day.  So  back  again,  by  the 
way  seeing  my  goods  well  in  the  lighters  at  Deptford, 
and  watched  well  by  people.  Home,  and  whereas  I 
expected  to  have  seen  our  house  on  fire,  it  being  now 
about  seven  o'clock,  it  was  not.  But  to  the  fire,  and 
there  find  greater  hopes  than  I  expected ;  for  my  con- 
fidence of  finding  our  office  on  fire  was  such,  that  I 
durst  not  ask  any  body  how  it  was  with  us,  till  I  come 
and  saw  it  was  not  burned.  But,  going  to  the  fire,  I  find, 
by  the  blowing  up  of  houses,  and  the  great  help  given 
by  the  workmen  out  of  the  King's  yards,  sent  up  by  Sir 
W.  Pen,  there  is  a  good  stop  given  to  it,  as  well  at  Marke 
Lane  End  as  ours  ;  it  having  only  burned  the  dyall  of 
Barking  Church,  and  part  of  the  porch,  and  was  there 
quenched.  I  up  to  the  top  of  Barking  steeple,  and  there 
saw  the  saddest  sight  of  desolation  that  I  ever  saw  ;  every 
where  great  fires,  oyle-cellars,  and  brimstone,  and  other 
things  burning.  I  became  afraid  to  stay  there  long,  and 
therefore  down  again  as  fast  as  I  could,  the  fire  being 
spread  as  far  as  I  could  see  it  ;  and  to  Sir  W.  Pen's,  and 
there  eat  a  piece  of  cold  meat,  having  eaten1  nothing 
since  Sunday,  but  the  remains  of  Sunday's  dinner.  Here 
I  met  with  Mr.  Young  and  Whistler ;  and,  having 
removed  all  my  things,  and  received  good  hopes  that 
the  fire  at  our  end  is  stopped,  they  and  I  walked  into 
the  town,  and  find  Fenchurch  Street,  Gracious  Street, 

1  He  forgot  the  shoulder  of  mutton  from  the  cook's  the  day  before. 
254 


MR.   PEPYS'S   ACCOUNT    OF    THE   GREAT   FIRE 

and  Lumbard  Street  all  in  dust.  The  Exchange  a  sad 
sight,  nothing  standing  there,  of  all  the  statues  or 
pillars,  but  Sir  Thomas  Gresham's  picture  in  the  corner. 
Into  Moore-fields,  our  feet  ready  to  burn,  walking 
through  the  town  among  the  hot  coles,  and  find  that 
full  of  people,  and  poor  wretches  carrying  their  goods 
there,  and  every  body  keeping  his  goods  together  by 
themselves  ;  and  a  great  blessing  it  is  to  them  that  it  is 
fair  weather  for  them  to  keep  abroad  night  and  day  ; 
drunk  there,  and  paid  twopence  for  a  plain  penny  loaf. 
Thence  homeward,  having  passed  through  Cheapside,  and 
Newgate  market,  all  burned  ;  and  seen  Anthony  Joyce's 
house  in  fire ;  and  took  up,  which  I  keep  by  me,  a  piece 
of  glass  of  the  Mercer's  chapel  in  the  street,  where  much 
more  was,  so  melted  and  buckled  with  the  heat  of  the 
fire  like  parchment.  I  also  did  see  a  poor  cat  taken  out 
of  a  hole  in  a  chimney,  joyning  to  the  wall  of  the 
Exchange,  with  the  hair  all  burnt  off  the  body,  and  yet 
alive.  So  home  at  night,  and  find  there  good  hopes  of 
saving  our  office  ;  but  great  endeavours  of  watching  all 
night,  and  having  men  ready ;  and  so  we  lodged  them 
in  the  office,  and  had  drink  and  bread  and  cheese  for 
them.  And  I  lay  down  and  slept  a  good  night  about 
midnight :  though,  when  I  rose,  I  heard  that  there  had 
been  a  great  alarme  of  French  and  Dutch  being  risen, 
which  proved  nothing.  But  it  is  a  strange  thing  to  see 
how  long  this  time  did  look  since  Sunday,  having  been 
always  full  of  variety  of  actions,  and  little  sleep,  that  it 
looked  like  a  week  or  more,  and  I  had  forgot  almost  the 
day  of  the  week. 

255 


RED-LETTER   DAYS  OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

September  6,  1666. 

Up  about  five  o'clock,  and  met  Mr.  Gauden  at  the 
gate  of  the  office,  I  intending  to  go  out,  as  I  used,  every 
now  and  then,  to-day,  to  see  how  the  fire  is,  to  call  our 
men  to  Bishop's-gate,  where  no  fire  had  yet  been  near, 
and  there  is  now  one  broke  out  :  which  did  give  great 
grounds  to  people,  and  to  me  too,  to  think  that  there  is 
some  kind  of  plot  in  this,  on  which  many  by  this  time 
have  been  taken,  and  it  hath  been  dangerous  for  any 
stranger  to  walk  in  the  streets,  but.  I  went  with  the 
men,  and  we  did  put  it  out  in  a  little  time ;  so  that  that 
was  well  again.  It  was  pretty  to  see  how  hard  the 
women  did  work  in  the  cannells,  sweeping  of  water  ; 
but  then  they  would  scold  for  drink,  and  be  as  drunk  as 
devils.  I  saw  good  butts  of  sugar  broke  open  in  the 
street,  and  people  give  and  take  handfuls  out,  and  put 
into  beer,  and  drink  it.  And  now  all  being  pretty  well, 
I  took  boat,  and  over  to  Southwarke,  and  took  boat  on 
the  other  side  the  bridge,  and  so  to  Westminster,  thinking 
to  shift  myself,  being  all  in  dirt  from  top  to  bottom;  but 
could  not  there  find  any  place  to  buy  a  shirt  or  a  pair  of 
gloves,  Westminster  Hall  being  full  of  people's  goods, 
those  in  Westminster  having  removed  all  their  goods, 
and  the  Exchequer  money  put  into  vessels  to  carry  to 
Nonsuch ;  but  to  the  Swan,  and  there  was  trimmed  : 
and  then  to  White  Hall,  but  saw  nobody ;  and  so  home. 
A  sad  sight  to  see  how  the  river  looks :  no  houses  nor 
church  near  it,  to  the  Temple,  where  it  stopped.  At 
home,  did  go  with  Sir  W.  Batten,  and  our  neighbour, 
Knightly,  who,  with  one  more,  was  the  only  man  of  any 

256 


MR.   PEPYS'S   ACCOUNT   OF    THE   GREAT   FIRE 

fashion  left  in  all  the  neighbourhood  thereabouts,  they  all 
removing  their  goods,  and  leaving  their  houses  to  the 
mercy  of  the  fire  ;  to  Sir  R.  Ford's,  and  there  dined  in 
an  earthen  platter — a  fried  breast  of  mutton  ;  a  great 
many  of  us,  but  very  merry,  and  indeed  as  good  a  meal, 
though  as  ugly  a  one,  as  ever  I  had  in  my  life.  Thence 
down  to  Deptford,  and  there  with  great  satisfaction 
landed  all  my  goods  at  Sir  G.  Carteret's  safe,  and  nothing 
missed  I  could  see  or  hear.  This  being  done  to  my  great 
content,  I  home,  and  to  Sir  W.  Batten's,  and  there,  with 
Sir  R.  Ford,  Mr.  Knightly,  and  one  Withers,  a  professed 
lying  rogue,  supped  well,  and  mighty  merry,  and  our 
fears  over.  From  them  to  the  office,  and  there  slept 
with  the  office  full  of  labourers,  who  talked,  and  slept, 
and  walked  all  night  long  there.  But  strange  it  is  to 
sec  Clothworkers'  Hall  on  fire  these  three  days  and  nights 
in  one  body  of  flame,  it  being  the  cellar  full  of  oyle. 

September  7,  1666. 

Up  by  five  o'clock  ;  and,  blessed  be  God !  find  all  well ; 
and  by  water  to  Pane's  Wharfe.  Walked  thence,  and 
saw  all  the  towne  burned,  and  a  miserable  sight  of  Paul's 
church,  with  all  the  roofs  fallen,  and  the  body  of  the 
quire  fallen  into  St.  Fayth's  ;  Paul's  school  also,  Ludgate, 
and  Fleet  Street.  My  father's  house,  and  the  church, 
and  a  good  part  of  the  Temple  the  like.  So  to  Creed's 
lodging,  near  the  New  Exchange,  and  there  find  him  laid 
down  upon  a  bed  ;  the  house  all  unfurnished,  there  being 
fears  of  the  fire's  coming  to  them.  There  borrowed  a 
shirt  of  him,  and  washed.  To  Sir  W.  Coventry  at  St. 

257  s 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

James's,  who  lay  without  curtains,  having  removed  all 
his  goods  ;  as  the  King  at  White  Hall,  and  every  body 
had  done,  and  was  doing.  He  hopes  we  shall  have  no 
public  distractions  upon  this  fire,  which  is  what  every  body 
fears,  because  of  the  talk  of  the  French  having  a  hand  in  it. 

September  8,  1666. 

I  met  with  many  people  undone,  and  more  that  have 
extraordinary  great  losses.  People  speaking  their  thoughts 
variously  about  the  beginning  of  the  fire,  and  the  rebuild- 
ing of  the  City.  Then  to  Sir  W.  Batten's,  and  took  my 
brother  with  me,  and  there  dined  with  a  great  company 
of  neighbours,  and  much  good  discourse  ;  among  others, 
of  the  low  spirits  of  some  rich  men  in  the  City,  in  sparing 
any  encouragement  to  the  poor  people  that  wrought 
for  the  saving  their  houses.  Among  others,  Alderman 
Starling,  a  very  rich  man,  without  children,  the  fire  at 
next  door  to  him  in  our  lane,  after  our  men  had  saved 
his  house,  did  give  2s.  6d.  among  thirty  of  them,  and  did 
quarrel  with  some  that  would  remove  the  rubbish  out  of 
the  way  of  the  fire,  saying  that  they  come  to  steal.  Sir 
W.  Coventry  told  me  of  another  this  morning  in 
Holborne,  which  he  showed  the  King:  that  when  it 
was  offered  to  stop  the  fire  near  his  house  for  such  a 
reward  that  come  but  to  2s.  6d.  a  man,  among  the 
neighbours,  he  would  give  but  i8d. 

September  10,  1 666. 

All  the  morning  clearing  our  cellars,  and  breaking  in 
pieces  all  my  old  lumber,  to  make  room,  and  to  prevent 

258 


MR.   PEPYS'S   ACCOUNT   OF   THE    GREAT    FIRE 

fire.  And  then  to  Sir  W.  Batten's,  and  dined  ;  and 
there  hear  that  Sir  W.  Rider  says  that  the  town  is  full 
of  the  report  of  the  wealth  that  is  in  his  house,  and 
he  would  be  glad  that  his  friends  would  provide  for 
the  safety  of  their  goods  there.  This  made  me  get  a 
cart  ;  and  thither,  and  there  brought  my  money  all 
away. 


259 


ED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 


MR.   PEPYS   IS  SUPERSTITIOUS 

April 8,  1 66 1. 

We  supped  very  merry,  and  late  to  bed  ;  Sir  William 
telling  me  that  old  Edgeborrow,  his  predecessor,  did  die 
and  walk  in  my  chamber,  did  make  me  somewhat 
afraid,  but  not  so  much  as,  for  mirth  sake,  I  did  seem. 
So  to  bed,  in  the  Treasurer's  chamber. 

April  9,  1 66 1. 

Lay  and  slept  well  till  three  in  the  morning,  and  then 
waking,  and  by  the  light  of  the  moon  I  saw  my  pillow 
(which  overnight  I  flung  from  me)  stand  upright,  but, 
not  bethinking  myself  what  it  might  be,  I  was  a  little 
afraid,  but  sleep  overcome  all,  and  so  lay  till  nigh 
morning,  at  which  time  I  had  a  candle  brought  me, 
and  a  good  fire  made,  and  in  general  it  was  a  great 
pleasure  all  the  time  I  staid  here  to  see  how  I  am 
respected  and  honoured  by  all  people  ;  and  I  find  that 
I  begin  to  know  now  how  to  receive  so  much  reverence, 
which,  at  the  beginning,  I  could  not  tell  how  to  do. 

260 


MR.  PEPYS  IS  SUPERSTITIOUS 

June  15,  1663. 

Both  at  and  after  dinner,  we  had  great  discourses  of 
the  nature  and  power  of  spirits,  and  whether  they  can 
animate  dead  bodies  ;  in  all  which,  as  of  the  general 
appearance  of  spirits,  my  Lord  Sandwich  is  very  scepti- 
call.  He  says  the  greatest  warrants  that  ever  he  had 
to  believe  any,  is  the  present  appearing  of  the  Devil 
in  Wiltshire,  much  of  late  talked  of,  who  beats  a  drum 
up  and  down.  There  are  books  of  it,  and,  they  say, 
very  true  ;  but  my  Lord  observes,  though  he  do  answer 
any  tune  that  you  will  play  to  him  upon  another  drum, 
yet  one  time  he  tried  to  play  and  could  not  ;  which 
makes  him  suspect  the  whole  j  and  I  think  it  is  a  good 
argument. 

October  19,  1663. 

Waked  with  a  very  high  wind,  and  said  to  my  wife, 
"I  pray  God  I  hear  not  of  the  death  of  any  great 
person,  this  wind  is  so  high  ! "  fearing  that  the  Queen 
might  be  dead.1 

January  2O,  1664—65. 

To  my  bookseller's,  and  there  took  home  Hook's 
book  of  Microscopy,  a  most  excellent  piece,  and  of 
which  I  am  very  proud.  Homeward,  in  my  way  buying 
a  hare,  and  taking  it  home,  which  arose  upon  my  dis- 
course to-day  with  Mr.  Batten,  in  Westminster  Hall, 
who  showed  me  my  mistake  that  my  hare's  foot  hath 
not  the  joynt  to  it ;  and  assures  me  he  never  had  his 

1  The  Queen  was  seriously  ill  at  this  time. — E.  F.  A. 
26l 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

cholique  since  he  carried  it  about  him  :  and  it  is  a 
strange  thing  how  fancy  works,  for  I  no  sooner  handled 
his  foot,  but  I  become  very  well,  and  so  continue. 

January  21,  1664—65. 

Now  mighty  well,  and  truly  I  can  but  impute  it  to 
my  fresh  hare's  foote. 

July  31,  1665. 

This  evening  with  Mr.  Brisband,  speaking  of  en- 
chantments and  spells,  I  telling  him  some  of  my 
charmes ;  he  told  me  this,  of  his  own  knowledge,  at 
Bourdeaux,  in  France.  The  words  were  these  : — 

Voyci  un  Corps  mort, 

Royde  come  un  Baston, 

Froid  comme  Marbre, 

Leger  come  un  Esprit, 

Levons  le  au  nom  de  Jesus  Christ. 

He  saw  four  little  girls,  very  young  ones — all  kneel- 
ing, each  of  them,  upon  one  knee ;  and  one  begun  the 
first  line,  whispering  in  the  eare  of  the  next,  and  the 
second  to  the  third,  and  the  third  to  the  fourth,  and  she 
to  the  first.  Then  the  first  begun  the  second  line,  and 
so  round  quite  through ;  and,  putting  each  one  finger 
only  to  a  boy  that  lay  flat  upon  his  back  on  the  ground, 
as  if  he  was  dead  ;  at  the  end  of  the  words,  they  did 
with  their  four  fingers  raise  this  boy  as  high  as  they 
could  reach ;  and  Mr.  Brisband,  being  there,  and 
wondering  at  it,  as  also  being  afraid  to  see  it,  for 
they  would  have  had  him  to  have  bore  a  part  in 

262 


MR.   PEPYS   IS   SUPERSTITIOUS 

saying  the  words,  in  the  room  of  one  of  the  little 
girls  that  was  so  young  that  they  could  hardly  make 
her  learn  to  repeat  the  words,  did,  for  fear  there  might 
be  some  slight  used  in  it  by  the  boy,  or  that  the 
boy  might  be  light,  call  the  cook  of  the  house,  a  very 
lusty  fellow,  as  Sir  G.  Carteret's  cook,  who  is  very  big  : 
and  they  did  raise  him  just  in  the  same  manner.1  This 
is  one  of  the  strangest  things  I  ever  heard,  but  he  tells 
it  me  of  his  own  knowledge,  and  I  do  heartily  believe  it 
to  be  true.  I  enquired  of  him  whether  they  were  Pro- 
testant or  Catholique  girls  ;  and  he  told  me  they  were 
Protestant,  which  made  it  the  more  strange  to  me. 

1  The  secret  is  now  well  known,  and  is  described  by  Sir  David  Brewster, 
in  his  Natural  Magic,  p.  256  : — "One  of  the  most  remarkable  and  inex- 
plicable experiments  relative  to  the  strength  of  the  human  frame,  is  that  in 
which  a  heavy  man  is  raised  up  the  instant  that  his  own  lungs  and  those  of 
the  persons  who  raise  him  are  inflated  with  air.  This  experiment  was,  I 
believe,  first  shown  in  England  a  few  years  ago  by  Major  H.,  who  saw  it 
performed  in  a  large  party  at  Venice,  under  the  direction  of  an  officer  of 
the  American  navy.  As  Major  H.  performed  it  more  than  once  in  my 
presence,  I  shall  describe  as  nearly  as  possible  the  method  which  he  pre- 
scribed. The  heaviest  person  in  the  party  lies  down  upon  two  chairs,  his 
legs  being  supported  by  the  one,  and  his  back  by  the  other.  Four  persons, 
one  at  each  leg,  and  one  at  each  shoulder,  then  try  to  raise  him,  and  they 
find  his  dead  weight  to  be  very  great,  from  the  difficulty  they  experience  in 
supporting  him.  When  he  is  replaced  in  the  chair,  each  of  the  four  persons 
takes  hold  of  the  body,  as  before,  and  the  person  to  be  lifted  gives  two 
signals,  by  clapping  his  hands-  At  the  first  signal,  he  himself  and  the  four 
lifters  begin  to  draw  a  long  and  full  breath  ;  and  when  the  inhalation  is 
completed,  or  the  lungs  filled,  the  second  signal  is  given  for  raising  the 
person  from  the  chair.  To  his  own  surprise  and  that  of  his  bearers,  he 
rises  with  the  greatest  facility,  as  if  he  were  no  heavier  than  a  feather.  On 
several  occasions,  I  have  observed,  that  when  one  of  the  bearers  performs  his 
part  ill,  by  making  the  inhalation  out  of  time,  the  part  of  the  body  which 
he  tries  to  raise  is  left  as  it  were  behind.  As  you  have  repeatedly  seen 

263 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

March  23,  1669. 

After  supper,  we  fell  to  talk  of  spirits  and  apparitions, 
whereupon  many  pretty,  particular  stories  were  told,  so 
as  to  make  me  almost  afraid  to  be  alone,  but  for  shame 
I  could  not  help  it  :  and  so  to  bed  ;  and  being  sleepy, 
fell  soon  to  rest,  and  so  rested  well. 

this  experiment,  and  have  performed  the  part  both  of  the  load  and  of  the 
bearer,  you  can  testify  how  remarkable  the  effects  appear  to  all  parties,  and 
how  complete  is  the  conviction,  either  that  the  load  has  been  lightened,  or 
the  bearer  strengthened,  by  the  prescribed  process.  At  Venice,  the  experi- 
ment was  performed  in  a  much  more  imposing  manner.  The  heaviest  man  in 
the  party  was  raised  and  sustained  upon  the  points  of  the  forefingers  of  six 
persons.  Major  H.  declared  that  the  experiment  would  not  succeed,  if  the 
person  lifted  were  placed  upon  a  board,  and  the  strength  of  the  individuals 
applied  to  the  board.  He  conceived  it  necessary  that  the  bearers  should 
communicate  directly  with  the  body  to  be  raised.  I  have  not  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  making  any  experiments  relative  to  these  curious  facts  :  but, 
whether  the  general  effect  is  an  illusion,  or  the  result  of  known  or  new 
principles,  the  subject  merits  a  careful  investigation."  I  learn,  on  the 
authority  of  Dr.  Maitland,  that  a  similar  experiment  was  once  tried  in 
Gloucestershire,  upon  a  very  stout  gentleman  ;  and  that  the  lifters  were  so 
astonished  at  their  success,  that  they  permitted  him  to  fall  to  the  ground, 
to  his  sore  discomfiture.  Ex.  infer.  W.  J.  Thorns.  It  would  be  very 
serious,  if  these  experiments  were  frequent,  to  find  oneself  the  heaviest 
person  in  a  party. 


264 


MR.   PEPYS'S   VALENTINES 


MR.   PEPYS'S  VALENTINES 

February  14,  1661-62. 

(Valentine's  day.)  I  did  this  day  purposely  shun  to 
be  seen  at  Sir  W.  Batten's,  because  I  would  not  have 
his  daughter  to  be  my  Valentine,  as  she  was  the  last 
year,  there  being  no  great  friendship  between  us  now, 
as  formerly.  This  morning  in  comes  W.  Bowyer,  who 
was  my  wife's  Valentine,  she  having,  at  which  I  made 
good  sport  to  myself,  held  her  hands  all  the  morning, 
that  she  might  not  see  the  paynters  that  were  at  work 
in  gilding  my  chimney-piece  and  pictures  in  my  dining- 
room. 

February  14,  1666-67. 

This  morning  come  up  to  my  wife's  bedside,  I  being 
up  dressing  myself,  little  Will  Mercer  to  be  her  Valen- 
tine ;  and  brought  her  name  writ  upon  blue  paper  in 
gold  letters,  done  by  himself  very  pretty  ;  and  we  were 
both  well  pleased  with  it.  But  I  am  also  this  year  my 
wife's  Valentine,  and  it  will  cost  me  ^5  ;  but  that  I 
must  have  laid  out  if  we  had  not  been  Valentines. 

265 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

February  14,  1667-68. 

(Valentine's  day.)  Up,  being  called  up  by  Mercer, 
who  come  to  be  my  Valentine,  and  I  did  give  her  a 
guinny  in  gold  for  her  Valentine's  gift.  There  conies 
Roger  Pepys  betimes,  and  comes  to  my  wife,  for  her  to 
be  his  Valentine,  whose  Valentine  I  was  also,  by  agree- 
ment to  be  so  to  her  every  year ;  and  this  year  I  find 
it  is  likely  to  cost  ^4  or  ^5  in  a  ring  for  her,  which 
she  desires. 

February  14,  1668-69. 

To  my  cozen  Turner's,  where,  having  the  last  night 
been  told  by  her  that  she  had  drawn  me  for  her  Valen- 
tine, I  did  this  day  call  at  the  New  Exchange,  and 
bought  her  a  pair  of  green  silk  stockings  and  garters  and 
shoe-strings,  and  two  pair  of  jessimy  gloves,  all  coming 
to  about  28s.,  and  did  give  them  to  her  this  noon. 


266 


MR.   PEPYS  AND   THE   FAIR   SEX 


MR.   PEPYS  AND  THE   FAIR  SEX 

August  3,  1660. 

By  coach  with  my  wife  to  Dr.  Clarke's  to  dinner.  I 
was  very  much  taken  with  his  lady,  a  comely,  proper 
woman,  though  not  handsome,  but  a  woman  of  the  best 
language  I  ever  heard. 

August  6,  1 66 1. 

Home  to  my  father,  who  could  discerne  that  I  had 
been  drinking,  which  he  did  never  see  or  hear  of 
before  :  so  I  eat  a  bit  of  dinner,  and  then  took  horse  for 
London,  and  with  much  ado,  the  ways  being  very  bad, 
got  to  Baldwick.  There  lay,  and  had  a  good  supper  by 
myself.  The  landlady  being  a  pretty  woman,  but  I 
durst  not  take  notice  of  her,  her  husband  being  there. 

August  10,  1 66 1. 

This  morning  come  the  mayde  that  my  wife  hath 
lately  hired  for  a  chamber-mayde.  She  is  very  ugly, 
so  that  I  cannot  care  for  her,  but  otherwise  she  seems 
very  good. 

267 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

August  31,  1661. 

To  Bartholomew  faire,  and  there  met  with  my 
Ladies  Jemimah  and  Paulina,  with  Mr.  Pickering  and 
Madamoiselle,1  at  seeing  the  monkeys  dance,  which  was 
much  to  see,  when  they  could  be  brought  to  do,  but  it 
troubled  me  to  sit  among  such  nasty  company.  After 
that,  with  them  into  Christ's  Hospitall,  and  there  Mr. 
Pickering  bought  them  some  fairings,  and  I  did  give 
every  one  of  them  a  bauble,  which  was  the  little  globes 
of  glass  with  things  hanging  in  them,  which  pleased  the 
ladies  very  well.  After  that,  home  with  them  in  their 
coach  and  there  was  called  up  to  my  Lady,  and  she 
would  have  me  stay  to  talk  with  her,  which  I  did  I 
think  a  full  houre.  And  the  poor  lady  did  with  so  much 
innocency  tell  me  how  Mrs.  Crispe  had  told  her  that  she 
did  intend,  by  means  of  a  lady  that  lies  at  her  house,  to 
get  the  King  to  be  god-father  to  the  young  lady  that 
she  is  in  child-bed  now  of;  but  to  see  in  what  manner 
my  Lady  told  it  me,  protesting  that  she  sweat  in  the 
very  telling  of  it,  was  the  greatest  pleasure  to  me  in  the 
world  to  see  the  simplicity  and  harmlessnesse  of  a  lady. 

May  2,  1662. 

To  Dr.  Clerke's  lady,  and  give  her  her  letter  and 
token.  She  is  a  very  fine  woman  ;  and  what  with  her 
person,  and  the  number  of  fine  ladies  that  were  with 
her,  I  was  much  out  of  countenance,  and  could  hardly 
carry  myself  like  a  man  among  them  ;  but,  however,  I 
staid  till  my  courage  was  up  again,  and  talked  to  them, 

1  The  young  ladies'  governess. 
268 


MR.    PEPYS  AND   THE   FAIR   SEX 

and  viewed  his  house,  which  is  most    pleasant,  and   so 
drank  and  good  night. 

June  19,  1662. 

With  the  last  chest  of  crusados  to  Alderman  Back- 
well's,  by  the  same  token  his  lady  going  to  take  coach 
stood  in  the  shop,  and  having  a  gilded  glass-full  of 
perfumed  comfits  given  her  by  Don  Duarte  de  Silon, 
the  Portugall  merchant  that  is  come  over  with  the 
Queen,  I  did  offer  at  a  taste,  and  so  she  poured  some 
out  into  my  hand,  and  though  good,  yet  pleased  me 
the  better  coming  from  a  pretty  lady. 

June  30,  1662. 

To  my  office,  where  I  fell  upon  boring  holes  for 
me  to  see  from  my  closet  into  the  great  office,  with- 
out going  forth,  wherein  I  please  myself  much.  Told 
my  Lady  [Carteret]  how  my  Lady  Fanshaw  is  fallen 
out  with  her  only  for  speaking  in  behalf  of  the  French, 
which  my  Lady  wonders  at,  they  having  been  formerly 
like  sisters.  Thence  to  my  house,  where  I  took  great 
pride  to  lead  her  through  the  Court  by  the  hand,  she 
being  very  fine,  and  her  page  carrying  up  her  train, 
she  staying  a  little  at  my  house,  and  then  walked 
through  the  garden,  and  took  water,  and  went  first  on 
board  the  King's  pleasure-boat,  which  pleased  her  much. 
Then  to  Greenwiche  Parke  ;  and  with  much  ado  she 
was  able  to  walk  up  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  so  down 
again,  and  took  boat,  and  so  through  bridge  to  Black- 
fryers,  and  home,  she  being  much  pleased  with  the 

269 


RED-LETTER    DAYS  OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

ramble  in  every  particular  of  it.     So  we  supped  with  her, 
and  then  walked  home,  and  to  bed. 

June  15,  1663. 

Talked  of  handsome  women  ;  and  Sir  J.  Minnes  saying 
that  there  was  no  beauty  like  what  he  sees  in  the  country 
markets,  and  specially  at  Bury,  in  which  I  will  agree 
with  him.  My  Lord  replied  thus :  Sir  John,  what  do 
you  think  of  your  neighbour's  wife  ?  looking  upon  me. 
Do  you  not  think  that  he  hath  a  great  beauty  to  his 
wife  ?  Upon  my  word  he  hath.  Which  I  was  not  a 
little  proud  of. 

June  14,  1664. 

By  coach  to  Kensington.  In  the  way  overtaking  Mr. 
Laxton,  the  apothecary,  with  his  wife  and  daughters — 
very  fine  young  lasses — in  a  coach  ;  and  so  both  of  us  to 
my  Lady  Sandwich,  who  hath  lain  this  fortnight  here,  at 
Deane  Hodges's.  Much  company  come  hither  to-day — 
my  Lady  Carteret,  &c.,  Sir  William  Wheeler  and  his 
lady,  and,  above  all,  Mr.  Becke,  of  Chelsey,  and  wife  and 
daughter,  my  Lord's  mistress,  and  one  that  hath  not  one 
good  feature  in  her  face,  and  yet  is  a  fine  lady,  of  a  fine 
taille,  and  very  well  carriaged,  and  mighty  discreet.  I 
took  all  the  occasion  I  could  to  discourse  with  the  young 
ladies  in  her  company  to  give  occasion  to  her  to  talk, 
which  now  and  then  she  did,  and  that  mighty  finely,  and 
is,  I  perceive,  a  woman  of  such  an  ayre,  as  I  wonder  the 
less  at  my  Lord's  favour  to  her,  and  I  dare  warrant  him 
she  hath  brains  enough  to  entangle  him.  Two  or  three 

270 


MR.   PEPYS  AND   THE   FAIR   SEX 

hours  we  were  in  her  company,  going  into  Sir  H. 
Finche's  garden,  and  seeing  the  fountayne,  and  singing 
there  with  the  ladies,  and  a  mighty  fine  cool  place  it  is, 
with  a  great  laver  of  water  in  the  middle,  and  the  bravest 
place  for  musick  I  ever  heard.  After  much  mirth,  dis- 
coursing to  the  ladies  in  defence  of  the  city  against  the 
country  or  court,  and  giving  them  occasion  to  invite 
themselves  to-morrow  to  me  to  dinner  to  my  venison 
pasty,  I  got  their  mother's  leave,  and  so  good  night,  very 
well  pleased  with  my  day's  work,  and,  above  all,  that  I 
have  seen  my  Lord's  mistress. 

September  6,  1664. 

Called  upon  Doll,  our  pretty  'Change  woman,  for  a 
pair  of  gloves  trimmed  with  yellow  ribbon,  to  [match]  the 
petticoat  my  wife  bought  yesterday,  which  cost  me  2os. ; 
but  she  is  so  pretty,  that,  God  forgive  me  !  I  could  not 
think  it  too  much,  which  is  a  strange  slavery  that  I  stand 
in  to  beauty,  that  I  value  nothing  near  it. 

February  3,  1664-65. 

To  my  uncle  Wight's,  where  the  Wights  all  dined  ; 
and,  among  the  others,  pretty  Mrs.  Margaret,  who 
indeed  is  a  very  pretty  lady  ;  and,  though  by  my  vow  it 
costs  me  I2d.  a  kiss  after  the  first,  yet  I  did  adventure 
upon  a  couple. 

March  10,  1666. 

I  find  at  home  Mrs.  Pierce  aud  Knipp  come  to  dine 
with  me.  We  were  mighty  merry  ;  and,  after  dinner,  I 

271 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

carried  them  and  my  wife  out  by  coach  to  the  New  Ex- 
change, and  there  I  did  give  my  Valentine,  Mrs.  Pierce, 
a  dozen  pair  of  gloves,  and  a  pair  of  silk  stockings,  and 
Knipp  for  company,  though  my  wife  had,  by  my  consent, 
laid  out  2os.  on  her  the  other  day,  six  pair  of  gloves. 
The  truth  is,  I  do  indulge  myself  a  little  the  more  in 
pleasure,  knowing  that  this  is  the  proper  age  of  my  life 
to  do  it  ;  and,  out  of  my  observation  that  most  men  that 
do  thrive  in  the  world  do  forget  to  take  pleasure  during 
the  time  that  they  are  getting  their  estate,  but  reserve 
that  till  they  have  got  one,  and  then  it  is  too  late  for 
them  to  enjoy  it. 

May  29,  1666. 

My  wife  comes  to  me,  to  tell  me,  that  if  I  would  see 
the  handsomest  woman  in  England,  I  shall  come  home 
presently  ;  and  who  should  it  be  but  the  pretty  lady 
of  our  parish,  that  did  heretofore  sit  on  the  other  side  of 
our  church,  over  against  our  gallery,  that  is  since  married 
— she  with  Mrs.  Anne  Jones,  one  of  this  parish,  that 
dances  finely.  And  so  I  home  ;  and  indeed  she  is  a  pretty 
black  woman — her  name  Mrs.  Horsely.  But,  Lord  !  to 
see  how  my  nature  could  not  refrain  from  the  tempta- 
tion ;  but  I  must  invite  them  to  go  to  Foxhall,  to  Spring 
Gardens,  though  I  had  freshly  received  minutes  of  a  great 
deal  of  extraordinary  business.  However,  I  sent  them 
before  with  Creed,  and  I  did  some  of  my  business  ;  and 
so  after  them,  and  find  them  there,  in  an  arbour,  and  had 
met  with  Mrs.  Pierce,  and  some  company  with  her.  So 
here  I  spent  20s.  upon  them,  and  were  pretty  merry. 

272 


MR.    PEPYS  AND   THE   FAIR   SEX 

Among  other  things,  had  a  fellow  that  imitated  all 
manner  of  birds,  and  dogs,  and  hogs,  with  his  voice,  which 
was  mighty  pleasant.  Staid  here  till  night  :  then  set  Mrs. 
Pierce  in  at  the  New  Exchange ;  and  ourselves  took  coach, 
and  so  set  Mrs.  Horsly  home,  and  then  home  ourselves, 
but  with  great  trouble  in  the  streets,  by  bonfires,  it  being 
the  King's  birthday  and  day  of  Restoration  ;  but,  Lord  ! 
to  see  the  difference  how  many  there  were  on  the  other 
side,  and  so  few  on  ours,  the  City  side  of  the  Temple, 
would  make  one  wonder  the  difference  between  the 
temper  of  one  sort  of  people  and  the  other  :  and  the  differ- 
ence among  all  between  what  they  do  now,  and  what  it  was 
the  night  when  Monk  come  into  the  City.  Such  a  night 
as  that  I  never  think  to  see  again,  nor  think  it  can  be. 

August  6,  1666. 

After  dinner,  in  comes  Mrs.  Knipp,  and  I  sat  and 
talked  with  her,  it  being  the  first  time  of  her  being  here 
since  her  being  brought  to  bed.  I  very  pleasant  to  her, 
but  perceive  my  wife  hath  no  great  pleasure  in  her  being 
here.  However,  we  talked  and  sang,  and  were  very 
pleasant.  By  and  by  comes  Mr.  Pierce  and  his  wife,  the 
first  time  she  also  hath  been  here  since  her  lying-in,  both 
having  been  brought  to  bed  of  boys,  and  both  of  them 
dead.  Knipp  and  I  sang,  and  then  I  offered  to  carry 
them  home,  and  to  take  my  wife  with  me,  but  she 
would  not  go  :  so  I  with  them,  leaving  my  wife  in  a 
very  ill  humour.  However,  I  would  not  be  removed 
from  my  civility  to  them,  but  sent  for  a  coach,  and  went 
with  them ;  and  in  our  way,  Knipp  saying  that  she 

273  T 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

come  out  of  doors  without  a  dinner  to  us,  I  took  them 
to  Old  Fish-street,  to  the  very  house  and  woman  where 
I  kept  my  wedding  dinner,1  where  I  never  was  since, 
and  there  I  did  give  them  a  jole  of  salmon,  and  what  else 
was  to  be  had.  And  here  we  talked  of  the  ill-humour 
of  my  wife,  which  I  did  excuse  as  much  as  I  could, 
and  they  seemed  to  admit  of  it,  but  did  both  confess 
they  wondered  at  it :  but  from  thence  to  other  discourse, 
of  my  Lord  Brouncker.  They  told  me  how  poorly  my 
Lord  carried  himself  the  other  day  to  his  kinswoman, 
Mrs.  Howard,  and  was  displeased  because  she  called 
him  uncle  to  a  little  gentlewoman  that  is  there  with 
him,  which  he  will  not  admit  of;  for  no  relation  is 
to  be  challenged  from  others  to  a  lord,  and  did  treat 
her  thereupon  very  rudely  and  ungenteely.  Knipp  tells 
me,  also,  that  my  Lord  keeps  another  woman  besides 
Mrs.  Williams ;  and  that,  when  I  was  there  the  other 
day,  there  was  a  great  hubbub  in  the  house,  Mrs. 
Williams  being  fallen  sick,  because  my  Lord  was  gone 
to  his  other  mistress,  making  her  wait  for  him  till  his 
return  from  the  other  mistress  ;  and  a  great  deal  of  do 
there  was  about  it ;  and  Mrs.  Williams  swounded  at  it, 
at  the  very  time  when  I  wondered  at  the  reason  of 
my  being  received  so  negligently.  I  set  them  both  at 
home — Knipp  at  her  house,  her  husband  being  at  the 
doore  ;  and  glad  she  was  to  be  found  to  have  staid 
out  so  long  with  me  and  Mrs.  Pierce,  and  none  else. 

1  The  tavern  was  evidently  selected  to  mark  Pepys's  disgust  at  his 
wife's  ill-humour  ;  but  he  probably  did  not  venture  to  mention  the 
circumstance,  on  his  return  home. 

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MR.   PEPYS  AND   THE   FAIR   SEX 

Home,  and  there  find  my  wife  mightily  out  of  order,  and 
reproaching  of  Mrs.  Pierce  and  Knipp  as  wenches,  and 
I  know  not  what.  But  I  did  give  her  no  words  to 
offend  her,  and  quietly  let  all  pass. 

August  24,  1666. 

This  afternoon  comes  Mrs.  Barbary  Sheldon,  now  Mrs. 
Wood,  to  see  my  wife  :  I  was  so  busy,  I  would  not  see 
her.  But  she  come,  it  seems,  mighty  rich  in  rings  and 
fine  clothes,  and  like  a  lady,  and  says  she  is  matched 
mighty  well,  at  which  I  am  very  glad,  but  wonder  at 
her  good  fortune,  and  the  folly  of  her  husband. 

April  1 6,  1667. 

Home  to  dinner,  and  in  haste  to  carry  my  wife  to  see 
the  new  play  I  saw  yesterday,  she  not  knowing  it.  But 
there,  contrary  to  expectation,  find  "  The  Silent  Woman." 
However,  in  ;  and  there  Knipp  come  into  the  pit.  I 
took  her  by  me,  and  here  we  met  with  Mrs.  Horsly,  the 
pretty  woman — an  acquaintance  of  Mercer's,  whose 
house  is  burnt.  Knipp  tells  me  the  King  was  so  angry 
at  the  liberty  taken  by  Lacy's  part  to  abuse  him  to  his 
face,  that  he  commanded  they  should  act  no  more,  till 
Moone  went  and  got  leave  for  them  to  act  again,  but  not 
this  play.  The  King  mighty  angry  ;  and  it  was  bitter 
indeed,  but  very  fine  and  witty.  I  never  was  more  taken 
with  a  play  than  I  am  with  this  "  Silent  Woman,"  as  old 
as  it  is,  and  as  often  as  I  have  seen  it.  There  is  more 
wit  in  it  than  goes  to  ten  new  plays.  Thence  took  them 
all  to  the  Cake-house,  in  Southampton  Market-place. 

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RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

Pierce  told  us  the  story  how,  in  good  earnest,  the  King  is 
offended  with  the  Duke  of  Richmond's  marrying,  and 
Mrs.  Stewart's  sending  the  King  his  jewels  again.  As  he 
tells  it,  it  is  the  noblest  romance,  and  example  of  a  brave 
lady  that  ever  I  read  in  my  life.  Pretty  to  hear  them 
talk  of  yesterday's  play,  and  I  durst  not  own  to  my  wife 
that  I  had  seen  it. 

May  i,  1667. 

To  Westminster  ;  in  the  way  meeting  many  milk- 
maids with  their  garlands  upon  their  pails,  dancing  with 
a  fiddler  before  them  ;  and  saw  pretty  Nelly  x  standing  at 
her  lodgings'  door  in  Drury-lane  in  her  smock  sleeves 
and  bodice,  looking  upon  one ;  she  seemed  a  mighty 
pretty  creature. 

May  26,  1667. 

(Lord's  day.)  My  wife  and  I  to  church,  where  several 
strangers  of  good  condition  come  to  our  pew.  After 
dinner  I  by  water  alone  to  Westminster  to  the  parish 
church,  and  there  did  entertain  myself  with  my  per- 
spective glass  up  and  down  the  church,  by  which  I  had 
the  great  pleasure  of  seeing  and  gazing  at  a  great  many 
very  fine  women  ;  and  what  with  that,  and  sleeping,  I 
passed  away  the  time  till  sermon  was  done. 

August  18,  1667. 

I  walked  towards  White  Hall,  but,  being  wearied, 
turned  into  St.  Dunstan's  Church,  where  I  heard  an  able 

1  Nell  Gwynne. 
276 


MR.   PEPYS  AND   THE  FAIR   SEX 

sermon  of  the  minister  of  the  place ;  and  stood  by  a 
pretty,  modest  maid,  whom  I  did  labour  to  take  by  the 
hand  j  but  she  would  not,  but  got  further  and  further 
from  me ;  and,  at  last,  I  could  perceive  her  to  take  pins 
out  of  her  pocket  to  prick  me  if  I  should  touch  her  again 
— which,  seeing,  I  did  forbear,  and  was  glad  I  did  spy 
her  design.  And  then  I  fell  to  gaze  upon  another  pretty 
maid,  in  a  pew  close  to  me,  and  she  on  me ;  and  I  did  go 
about  to  take  her  by  the  hand,  which  she  suffered  a  little, 
and  then  withdrew.  So  the  sermon  ended,  and  the 
church  broke  up,  and  my  amours  ended  also. 

August  25,  1667. 

(Lord's  day.)  Up  and  to  church,  and  thence  home  ; 
and  Felling  comes  by  invitation  to  dine  with  me,  and 
much  pleasant  discourse  with  him.  After  dinner,  away 
by  water  to  White  Hall,  where  I  landed  Felling,  who  is 
going  to  his  wife,  where  she  is  in  the  country,  at  Parson's 
Greene  ;  and  myself  to  Westminster,  and  to  the  parish 
church,  thinking  to  see  Betty  Michell ;  and  did  stay  an 
hour  in  the  crowd,  thinking,  by  the  end  of  a  nose  that  I 
saw,  that  it  had  been  her ;  but  at  last  the  head  turned 
towards  me,  and  it  was  her  mother,  which  vexed  me. 

August  28,  1667. 

In  the  afternoon  with  my  Lady  Batten,  Pen,  and  her 
daughter,  and  my  wife,  to  Mrs.  Poole's,  where  I  mighty 
merry  among  the  women,  and  christened  the  child,  a 
girl,  Elizabeth,  which,  though  a  girl,  yet  my  Lady 
Batten  would  have  me  to  give  the  name.  After 

277 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF   SAMUEL   PEPYS 

christening  comes  Sir  W.  Batten,  W.  Pen,  and  Mr. 
Lowther,  and  mighty  merry  there,  and  I  forfeited  for 
not  kissing  the  two  godmothers  presently  after  the 
christening,  before  I  kissed  the  mother,  which  made 
good  mirth. 

July  20,  1668. 

To  the  old  Exchange,  to  see  a  very  noble  fine  lady  I 
spied  as  I  went  through,  in  coming ;  and  there  took 
occasion  to  buy  some  gloves,  and  admire  her,  and  a 
mighty  fine  fair  lady  indeed  she  was.  Thence  idling  all 
the  afternoon. 

September  I,  1668. 

To  Bartholomew  Fair,  and  there  saw  several  sights  ; 
among  others,  the  mare  that  tells  money,  and  many 
things,  to  admiration  ;  and,  among  others,  come  to  me, 
when  she  was  bid  to  go  to  him  of  the  company,  that 
most  loved  a  pretty  wench  in  a  corner.  And  this  did 
cost  me  I2d.  to  the  horse,  which  I  had  flung  him  before, 
and  did  give  me  occasion  to  kiss  a  mighty  belle  fille  that 
was  exceeding  plain,  but  fort  belle. 

September  28,  1 668. 

Knipp's  maid  comes  to  me,  to  tell  me  that  the 
women's  day  at  the  playhouse  is  to-day,  and  that  there- 
fore I  must  be  there,  to  encrease  their  profit.  I  did  give 
the  pretty  maid  Betty  that  comes  to  me,  half-a-crown 
for  coming,  and  had  a  kiss  or  two — elle  being  mighty 
jolle. 

278 


MR.   PEPYS   AND   THE   FAIR   SEX 

February  17,  1668-69. 

Comes  Castle  to  me,  to  desire  me  to  go  to  Mr.  Pedly 
this  night,  he  being  to  go  out  of  town  to-morrow  morning, 
which  I,  therefore,  did,  by  hackney-coach,  first  going  to 
White  Hall  to  meet  with  Sir  W.  Coventry,  but  missed 
him.  But  here  I  had  a  pleasant  rencontre  of  a  lady  in 
mourning,  that,  by  the  little  light  I  had,  seemed  hand- 
some. I  passing  by  her,  did  observe  she  looked  back 
again  and  again  upon  me,  I  suffering  her  to  go  before, 
and  it  being  now  duske.  She  went  into  the  little  passage 
towards  the  Privy  Water-Gate,  and  I  followed,  but 
missed  her ;  but  coming  back  again,  I  observed  she 
returned,  and  went  to  go  out  of  the  Court.  I  followed 
her,  and  took  occasion,  in  the  new  passage  now  built, 
where  the  walk  is  to  be,  to  take  her  by  the  hand,  to  lead 
her  through,  which  she  willingly  accepted,  and  I  led  her 
to  the  Great  Gate,  and  there  left  her,  she  telling  me,  of 
her  own  accord,  that  she  was  going  as  far  as  Charing 
Cross ;  but  my  boy  was  at  the  Gate,  and  so  I  durst  not 
go  out  with  her. 


279 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 


MR.    PEPYS    MARVELS    AT 
WONDERFUL    THINGS 

February  4,  1661-62. 

To  Westminster  Hall,  where  it  was  full  terme.  Here 
all  the  morning,  and  at  noon  to  my  Lord  Crewe's,  where 
one  Mr.  Templer,  an  ingenious  man  and  a  person  of 
honour  he  seems  to  be,  dined  ;  and,  discoursing  of  the 
nature  of  serpents,  he  told  us  some  in  the  waste  places  of 
Lancashire  do  grow  to  a  great  bigness,  and  do  feed  upon 
larkes,  which  they  take  thus  : — They  observe,  when  the 
lark  is  soared  to  the  highest,  and  do  crawl  till  they  come 
to  be  just  underneath  them  ;  and  there  they  place  them- 
selves with  their  mouth  uppermost,  and  there,  as  is  con- 
ceived, they  do  eject  poyson  upon  the  bird  :  for  the  bird 
do  suddenly  come  down  again  in  its  course  of  a  circle, 
and  falls  directly  into  the  mouth  of  the  serpent ;  which 
is  very  strange.  He  is  a  great  traveller  ;  and,  speaking 
of  the  tarantula,  he  says  that  all  the  harvest  long,  about 
which  times  they  are  most  busy,  there  are  fiddlers  go  up 
and  down  the  fields  every  where,  in  expectation  of  being 
hired  by  those  that  are  stung. 

280 


MR.  PEPYS  MARVELS  AT  WONDERFUL  THINGS 

November  25,  1662. 

Great  talk  among  people  how  some  of  the  Fanatiques 
do  say  that  the  end  of  the  world  is  at  hand,  and  that  next 
Tuesday  is  to  be  the  day.  Against  which,  whenever  it 
shall  be,  good  God  fit  us  all. 

May  6,  1663. 

To  the  Trinity  House,  and  there  dined,  where,  among 
other  discourse  worth  hearing  among  the  old  seamen, 
they  tell  us  that  they  have  catched  often,  in  Greenland, 
whales  with  the  iron  grapnells  that  had  formerly  been 
struck  into  their  bodies  covered  over  with  fat  ;  that  they 
have  had  eleven  hogsheads  of  oyle  out  of  the  tongue  of  a 
whale. 

June  26,  1663. 

At  table  discoursing  of  thunder  and  lightning,  Sir  W. 
Rider  did  tell  a  story  of  his  own  knowledge,  that  a 
Genoese  gaily  in  Leghorne  Roads  was  struck  by  thunder, 
so  as  the  mast  was  broke  a-pieces,  and  the  shackle  upon 
one  of  the  slaves  was  melted  clear  off  his  leg  without 
hurting  his  leg.  Sir  William  went  on  board  the  vessel, 
and  would  have  contributed  toward  the  release  of  the 
slave  whom  Heaven  had  thus  set  free  ;  but  he  could  not 
compass  it,  and  so  he  was  brought  to  his  fetters  again. 

November  6,  1663. 

To  the  Coffee-house,  and  among  other  things  heard 
Sir  John  Cutler  say,  that  of  his  own  experience  in  time 
of  thunder  so  many  barrels  of  beer  as  have  a  piece  of  iron 
laid  upon  them,  will  not  be  soured,  and  the  others  will. 

281 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

December  1 I,  1663. 

At  my  bookseller's,  and  I  bought  at  a  shop  Cardinall 
Mazarin's  Will  in  French.  At  the  Coffee-house  I  went 
and  sat  by  Mr.  Harrington,  and  some  East  country 
merchants,  and,  talking  of  the  country  above  Quins- 
borough,1  and  thereabouts,  he  told  us  himself  that  for 
fish,  none  there,  the  poorest  body,  will  buy  a  dead  fish,  but 
must  be  alive,  unless  it  be  in  the  winter  :  and  then  they 
told  us  the  manner  of  putting  their  nets  into  the  water. 
Through  holes  made  in  the  thick  ice,  they  will  spread  a 
net  of  half  a  mile  long  ;  and  he  hath  known  a  hundred  and 
thirty  and  a  hundred  and  seventy  barrels  of  fish  taken  at 
one  draught.  And  then  the  people  come  with  sledges 
upon  the  ice,  with  snow  at  the  bottom,  and  lay  the  fish 
in  and  cover  them  with  snow,  and  so  carry  them  to 
market.  And  he  hath  seen  when  the  said  fish  have  been 
frozen  in  the  sledge  ;  so  he  hath  taken  a  fish  and  broke 
a-pieces,  so  hard  it  hath  been  ;  and  yet  the  same  fishes 
taken  out  of  the  snow,  and  brought  into  a  hot  room,  will 
be  alive  and  leap  up  and  down.  Swallows  are  often 

1  Quinsborough  is  Konigsberg.  It  is  most  probable  that  Mr.  Har- 
rington had  been  reading  The  Travels  of  Master  George  Barkley^  Mer- 
chant of  London,  as  given  by  Purchas,  ii.  625,  627.  Konigsberg  is  there 
spelled  Kinninsburge,  easily  corrupted  by  Pepys  into  Sjuintborough.  The 
swallow  story  is  found  at  p.  626  :  "  One  here  in  his  net  drew  up  a 
company  or  heape  of  swallows,  as  big  as  a  bushell,  fastened  by  the  leg  and 
bills  in  one,  which  being  carried  to  their  stoves,  quickened,  and  flew, 
and  coming  again  suddenly  into  the  cold  air,  dyed."  It  appears  to  have 
been  generally  believed.  In  the  Advice  to  a  Painter  (1667)  attributed 
to  Sir  John  Denham,  we  find  the  following  lines  : — 

"  So  swallows,  buried  in  the  sea  at  Spring, 
Return  to  land  with  Summer  in  their  [on  the]  wing." 
282 


MR.  PEPYS  MARVELS  AT  WONDERFUL  THINGS 

brought  up  in  their  nets  out  of  the  mudd  from  under 
water,  hanging  together  to  some  twigg  or  other,  dead  in 
ropes,  and  brought  to  the  fire  will  come  to  life.  Fowl 
killed  in  December,  Alderman  Barker  said,  he  did  buy, 
and  putting  into  the  box  under  his  sledge,  did  forget 
to  take  them  out  to  eate  till  Aprill  next,  and  they  then 
were  found  there,  and  were  through  the  frost  as  sweet  and 
fresh,  and  eat  as  well  as  at  first  killed.  Young  beares 
appear  there  ;  their  flesh  sold  in  market,  as  ordinarily  as 
beef  here,  and  is  excellent  sweet  meat.  They  tell  us 
that  beares  there  do  never  hurt  anybody,  but  fly  away 
from  you,  unless  you  pursue  and  set  upon  them  ;  but 
wolves  do  much  mischief.  Mr.  Harrington  told  us  how 
they  do  to  get  so  much  honey  as  they  send  abroad. 
They  make  hollow  a  great  fir-tree,  leaving  only  a  small 
slit  down  straight  in  one  place  ;  and  this  they  close 
up  again,  only  leave  a  little  hole,  and  there  the  bees 
go  in  and  fill  the  bodys  of  those  trees  as  full  of  wax  and 
honey  as  they  can  hold  ;  and  the  inhabitants  at  times  go 
and  open  the  slit,  and  take  what  they  please  without 
killing  the  bees,  and  so  let  them  live  there  still  and 
make  more.  Fir-trees  are  always  planted  close  together, 
because  of  keeping  one  another  from  the  violence  of  the 
windes ;  and  when  a  fell  is  made,  they  leave  here  and 
there  a  grown  tree  to  preserve  the  young  ones  coming  up. 
The  great  entertainment  and  sport  of  the  Duke  of  Cor- 
land,  and  the  princes  thereabouts,  is  hunting  ;  which  is 
not  with  dogs  as  we,  but  he  appoints  such  a  day,  and 
summonses  all  the  country-people  as  to  a  campagnia  ; 
and  by  several  companies  gives  every  one  their  circuit, 

283 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

and  they  agree  upon  a  place  where  the  toyle  is  to  be  set ; 
and  so  making  fires  every  company  as  they  go,  they  drive 
all  the  wild  beasts,  whether  bears,  wolves,  foxes,  swine, 
and  stags,  and  roes,  into  the  toyle  ;  and  there  the  great 
men  have  their  stands  in  such  and  such  places,  and  shoot 
at  what  they  have  a  mind  to,  and  that  is  their  hunting. 
They  are  not  very  populous  there,  by  reason  that  people 
marry,  women,  seldom  till  they  are  towards  or  above 
thirty  ;  and,  men,  thirty  or  forty  years  old,  or  more 
oftentimes.  Against  a  public  hunting  the  Duke  sends 
that  no  wolves  be  killed  by  the  people  j  and,  whatever 
harm  they  do,  the  Duke  makes  it  good  to  the  person  who 
suffers  it :  as  Mr.  Harrington  instanced  in  a  house  where 
he  lodged,  where  a  wolfe  broke  into  a  hog-stye,  and 
bit  three  or  four  great  pieces  off  of  the  back  of  the 
hog,  before  the  house  could  come  to  help  it ;  and  the 
man  of  the  house  told  him  that  there  were  three  or 
four  wolves  thereabouts  that  did  them  great  hurt  ;  but  it 
was  no  matter,  for  the  Duke  was  to  make  it  good  to  him, 
otherwise  he  would  kill  them. 

March  14,  1664. 

To  White  Hall  j  and  in  the  Duke's  chamber,  while 
he  was  dressing,  two  persons  of  quality  that  were  there 
did  tell  his  Royal  Highness,  how,  the  other  night,  in 
Holborne,  about  midnight,  being  at  cards,  a  link-boy 
come  by  and  run  into  the  house,  and  told  the  people 
the  house  was  a-falling.  Upon  this  the  whole  family 
was  frighted,  concluding  that  the  boy  had  said  that 
the  house  was  a-fire  :  so  they  left  their  cards  above 

284 


MR.  PEPYS  MARVELS  AT  WONDERFUL  THINGS 

and  one  would  have  got  out  of  the  balcony,  but  it  was 
not  open  ;  the  other  went  up  to  fetch  down  his 
children,  that  were  in  bed  :  so  all  got  clear  out  of  the 
house.  And  no  sooner  so,  but  the  house  fell  down 
indeed,  from  top  to  bottom.  It  seems  my  Lord 
Southampton's  canal  did  come  too  near  their  foundation 
and  so  weakened  the  house,  and  down  it  come  :  which, 
in  every  respect,  is  a  most  extraordinary  passage. 

April  25,  1664. 

The  Duke,  which  gives  me  great  good  hopes,  do  talk 
of  setting  up  a  good  discipline  in  the  Fleet.  In  the 
Duke's  chamber  there  is  a  bird,  given  him  by  Mr.  Pierce, 
the  surgeon,  come  from  the  East  Indys — black  the 
greatest  part,  with  the  finest  collar  of  white  about  the 
neck ;  but  talks  many  things,  and  neyes  like  the  horse 
and  other  things,  the  best  almost  that  ever  I  heard  bird 
in  my  life. 

August  15,  1664. 

With  Sir  J.  Minnes ;  he  talking  of  his  cures  abroad, 
while  he  was  with  the  King  as  a  doctor.  And  among 
others,  Sir  J.  Denham,  he  told  me,  he  had  cured  to  a 
miracle.  At  Charing  Cross,  and  there  saw  the  great 
Dutchman  that  is  come  over,  under  whose  arm  I  went 
with  my  hat  on,  and  could  not  reach  higher  than  his 
eye-browes  with  the  tip  of  my  fingers.  He  is  a  comely 
and  well  made  man,  and  his  wife  a  very  little  but  pretty 
comely  Dutch  woman.  It  is  true,  he  wears  pretty  high- 
heeled  shoes,  but  not  very  high,  and  do  generally  wear  a 

285 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

turbant,  which  makes  him  show  yet  taller  than  really 
he  is. 

September  II,  1664. 

(Lord's  day.)  This  afternoon,  it  seems,  Sir  J. 
Minnes  fell  sick  at  church,  and,  going  down  the  gallery 
stairs,  fell  down  dead,  but  come  to  himself  again,  and  is 
pretty  well. 

September  1 6,  1664. 

Met  Mr.  Pargiter,  and  he  would  needs  have  me  drink 
a  cup  of  horse-radish  ale,  which  he  and  a  friend  of  his, 
troubled  with  the  stone,  have  been  drinking  of,  which 
we  did,  and  then  walked  into  the  fields  as  far  almost  as 
Sir  G.  Whitmore's,  all  the  way  talking  of  Russia,  which, 
he  says,  is  a  sad  place  ;  and  though  Moscow  is  a  very 
great  city,  yet  it  is  from  the  distance  between  house  and 
house,  and  few  people  compared  with  this,  and  poor, 
sorry  houses,  the  Emperor  himself  living  in  a  wooden 
house ;  his  exercise  only  flying  a  hawke  at  pigeons, 
and  carrying  pigeons  ten  or  twelve  miles  off,  and  then 
laying  wagers  which  pigeon  shall  come  soonest  home  to 
her  house.  All  the  winter  within  doors,  some  few  play- 
ing at  chesse,  but  most  drinking  their  time  away.  Women 
live  very  slavishly  there,  and,  it  seems,  in  the  Emperor's 
court,  no  room  hath  above  two  or  three  windows,  and 
those  the  greatest  not  a  yard  wide  or  high,  for  warmth  in 
winter  time,  and  that  the  general  cure  for  all  diseases 
there  is  their  sweating-houses  ;  or,  people  that  are  poor, 
they  get  into  their  ovens,  being  heated,  and  there  lie. 

286 


MR.  PEPYS   MARVELS  AT  WONDERFUL  THINGS 

Little  learning  among  them  of  any  sort.    Not  a  man  that 
speaks  Latin,  unless  the  Secretary  of  State  by  chance. 

November  11,  1664. 

A  gentleman  told  us  he  saw,  the  other  day,  and  did 
bring  the  draught  of  it  to  Sir  Francis  Pridgeon,  a  monster 
born  of  an  hostler's  wife  at  Salisbury,  two  women  children 
perfectly  made,  joyned  at  the  lower  part  of  their  bellies, 
and  every  part  as  perfect  as  two  bodies,  and  only  one 
payre  of  legs  coming  forth  on  one  side  from  the  middle 
where  they  were  joined.  It  was  alive  twenty-four  hours 
and  cried,  and  did  as  all  hopefull  children  do  ;  but,  being 
showed  too  much  to  people,  was  killed. 

December  17,  1664. 

Mighty  talk  there  is  of  this  Comet  that  is  seen  a'nights  : 
and  the  King  and  Queen  did  sit  up  last  night  to  see  it, 
and  did,  it  seems.  And  to-night  I  thought  to  have  done 
so  too  :  but  it  is  cloudy,  and  so  no  stars  appear.  But  I 
will  endeavour  it. 

December  21,  1664. 

My  Lord  Sandwich  this  day  writes  me  word  that 
he  hath  seen,  at  Portsmouth,  the  Comet,  and  says  it 
is  the  most  extraordinary  thing  he  ever  saw. 

December  24,  1664. 

Having  sat  up  all  night  to  past  two  o'clock  this 
morning,  our  porter,  being  appointed,  comes  and  tells 
us  that  the  bellman  tells  him  that  the  Star  is  seen 

287 


RED-LETTER    DAYS   OF    SAMUEL    PEPYS 

upon  Tower  Hill  ;  so  I,  that  had  been  all  night  setting 
in  order  all  my  old  papers  in  my  chamber,  did  leave 
off  all,  and  my  boy  and  I  to  Tower  Hill,  it  being  a 
most  fine,  bright,  moonshine  night,  and  a  great  frost, 
but  no  Comet  to  be  seen. 

December  24,  1664. 

I  saw  the  Comet,1  which  now,  whether  worn  away  or 
no  I  know  not,  appears  not  with  a  tail,  but  only  is  larger 
and  duller  than  any  other  star,  and  is  come  to  rise 
betimes,  and  to  make  a  great  arch,  and  is  gone  quite  to  a 
new  place  in  the  heavens  than  it  was  before  :  but  I  hope, 
in  a  clearer  night,  something  more  will  be  seen. 

September  22,  1665. 

At  Blackwall.  Here  is  observable  what  Johnson 
tells  us,  that,  in  digging  the  late  Docke,  they  did,  12 
feet  under  ground,  find  perfect  trees  over-covered  with 
earth.  Nut-trees,  with  the  branches  and  the  very  nuts 
upon  them  ;  some  of  whose  nuts  he  showed  us.  Their 
shells  black  with  age ;  and  their  kernell,  upon  opening,  de- 
cayed, but  their  shell  perfectly  hard  as  ever.  And  a 
yew-tree,  upon  which  the  very  ivy  was  taken  up  whole 
about  it,  which,  upon  cutting  with  an  addes  [adze],  we 
found  it  to  be  rather  harder  than  the  living  tree  usually 
is.  The  armes,  they  say,  were  taken  up  at  first  whole, 
about  the  body,  which  is  very  strange. 

1  It  is  one  of   the  twenty-four  comets  of  which  the  observations   have 
been  collected  in  Halley's  Astronomic  Cornelius  Synopsis. 

288 


MR.  PEPYS  MARVELS  AT  WONDERFUL  THINGS 

August  17,  1666. 

With  Captain  Erwin,  discoursing  about  the  East 
Indys,  where  he  hath  often  been.  And,  among  other 
things,  he  tells  me  how  the  King  of  Syam  seldom 
goes  out  without  thirty  or  forty  thousand  people  with 
him,  and  not  a  word  spoke,  nor  a  hum  or  cough  in  the 
whole  company  to  be  heard.  He  tells  me,  the  punish- 
ment frequently  there  for  malefactors,  is  cutting  off  the 
crowne  of  their  head,  which  they  do  very  dexterously, 
leaving  their  brains  bare,  which  kills  them  presently. 
He  told  me  what  I  remember  he  hath  once  done  hereto- 
fore ;  that  every  body  is  to  lie  flat  down  at  the  coming 
by  of  the  King,  and  nobody  to  look  upon  him  upon  pain 
of  death.  And  that  he  and  his  fellows,  being  strangers, 
were  invited  to  see  the  sport  of  taking  a  wild  elephant ; 
and  they  did  only  kneel,  and  look  towards  the  King. 
Their  druggerman  [dragoman]  did  desire  them  to  fall 
down,  for  otherwise  he  should  suffer  for  their  contempt 
of  the  King.  The  sport  being  ended,  a  messenger 
comes  from  the  King,  which  the  druggerman  thought 
had  been  to  have  taken  away  his  life  ;  but  it  was  to 
enquire  how  the  strangers  liked  the  sport.  The  drugger- 
man answered,  that  they  did  cry  it  up  to  be  the  best 
that  ever  they  saw,  and  that  they  never  heard  of  any 
Prince  so  great  in  every  thing  as  this  King.  The 
messenger  being  gone  back,  Erwin  and  his  company 
asked  their  druggerman  what  he  had  said,  which  he 
told  them.  "  But  why,"  they  say,  "  would  you  say  that 
without  our  leave,  it  being  not  true  ?  " — "  It  makes  no 
matter  for  that,"  says  he  j  "I  must  have  said  it,  or  have 

289  u 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

been  hanged  ;  for  our  King  do  not  live  by  meat,  nor 
drink,  but  by  having  great  lyes  told  him." 

March  18,  1667. 

This  day  Mr.  Caesar  told  me  a  pretty  experiment 
01  his,  of  angling  with  a  minnikin,  a  gut-string  varnished 
over,  which  keeps  it  from  swelling,  and  is  beyond  any 
hair  for  strength  and  smallness.  The  secret  I  like 
mightily. 

August  1 8,  1667. 

Took  coach  and  home,  and  there  took  up  my  wife 
and  to  Islington.  Between  that  and  Kingsland,  there 
happened  an  odd  adventure  :  one  of  our  coach-horses  fell 
sick  of  the  staggers,  so  as  he  was  ready  to  fall  down.  The 
coachman  was  fain  to  'light,  and  hold  him  up,  and  cut 
his  tongue  to  make  him  bleed,  and  his  tail :  then  he  blew 
some  tobacco  in  his  nose,  upon  which  the  horse  sneezed, 
and,  by  and  by,  grew  well,  and  drew  us  all  the  rest  of 
our  way,  as  well  as  ever  he  did. 

September  27,  1667. 

Creed  and  Sheres  come  and  dined  with  me ;  and  we 
had  a  great  deal  of  pretty  discourse  of  the  ceremonious- 
ness  of  the  Spaniards,  whose  ceremonies  are  so  many  and 
so  known,  that,  Sheres  tells  me,  upon  all  occasions  of  joy 
or  sorrow  in  a  Grandee's  family,  my  Lord  Embassador 
is  fain  to  send  one  with  an  en  hora  buena,  if  it  be  upon 
a  marriage,  or  birth  of  a  child,  or  a  peso  me,  if  it  be  upon 
the  death  of  a  child,  or  so.  And  these  ceremonies  are 

290 


MR.  PEPYS  MARVELS  AT  WONDERFUL  THINGS 

so  set,  and  the  words  of  the  compliment,  that  he  hath 
been  sent  from  my  Lord,  when  he  hath  done  no  more 
than  send  in  word  to  the  Grandee  that  one  was  there 
from  the  Embassador  ;  and  he  knowing  what  was  his 
errand,  that  hath  been  enough,  and  he  never  spoke 
with  him  :  nay,  several  Grandees  having  been  to  marry 
a  daughter,  have  wrote  letters  to  my  Lord  to  give 
him  notice,  and  out  of  the  greatness  of  his  wisdom  to 
desire  his  advice,  though  people  he  never  saw  ;  and  then 
my  Lord  he  answers  by  commendfng  the  greatness  of  his 
discretion  in  making  so  good  an  alliance,  etc.,  and  so 
ends.  He  says  that  it  is  so  far  from  dishonour  to  a  man 
to  give  private  revenge  for  an  affront,  that  the  con- 
trary is  a  disgrace  ;  they  holding  that  he  that  receives  an 
affront  is  not  fit  to  appear  in  the  sight  of  the  world  till  he 
hath  revenged  himself;  and  therefore,  that  a  gentleman 
there  that  receives  an  affront  oftentimes  never  appears 
again  in  the  world  till  he  hath,  by  some  private  way 
or  other,  revenged  himself:  and  that,  on  this  account, 
several  have  followed  their  enemies  privately  to  the  Indys, 
thence  to  Italy,  thence  to  France  and  back  again,  waiting 
for  an  opportunity  to  be  revenged.  He  says  my  Lord 
was  fain  to  keep  a  letter  from  the  Duke  of  York  to  the 
Queen  of  Spain  a  great  while  in  his  hands,  before  he 
could  think  fit  to  deliver  it,  till  he  had  learnt  whether  the 
Queen  could  receive  it,  it  being  directed  to  his  cozen. 
He  says  that  many  ladies  in  Spain,  after  they  are 
found  to  be  with  child,  do  never  stir  out  of  their  beds  or 
chambers  till  they  are  brought  to  bed  :  so  ceremonious 
they  are  in  that  point  also.  He  tell  me  of  their  wooing 

291 


RED-LETTER  DAYS   OF   SAMUEL    PEPYS 

by  serenades  at  the  window,  and  that  their  friends  do 
always  make  the  match  ;  but  yet  they  have  opportunities 
to  meet  at  masse  at  church,  and  there  they  make  love ; 
that  the  Court  there  hath  no  dancing,  nor  visits  at 
night  to  see  the  King  or  Queen,  but  is  always  just 
like  a  cloyster,  nobody  stirring  in  it  :  that  my  Lord 
Sandwich  wears  a  beard  now,  turned  up  in  the  Spanish 
manner. 

February  24,  1667-68. 

I  was  prettily  served  this  day  at  the  playhouse  door, 
where,  giving  six  shillings  into  the  fellow's  hand  for 
three  of  us,  the  fellow  by  legerdemain  did  convey  one 
away,  and  with  so  much  grace  faced  me  down  that  I 
did  give  him  but  five,  that,  though  I  knew  the  con- 
trary, yet  I  was  overpowered  by  his  so  grave  and 
serious  demanding  the  other  shilling,  that  I  could  not 
deny  him,  but  was  forced  by  myself  to  give  it  him. 

May  21,  1668. 

All  the  town  is  full  of  the  talk  of  a  meteor,  or 
some  fire,  that  did  on  Saturday  last  fly  over  the  city 
at  night,  which  do  put  me  in  mind  that,  being  then 
walking  in  the  dark  an  hour  or  more  myself  in  the 
garden,  after  I  had  done  writing,  I  did  see  a  light 
before  me  come  from  behind  me,  which  made  me  turn 
back  my  head  ;  and  I  did  see  a  sudden  fire  or  light 
running  in  the  sky,  as  it  were  towards  Cheapside 
ward,  and  it  vanished  very  quick,  which  did  make  me 
bethink  myself  what  holy  day  it  was,  and  took  it  for 

292 


MR.  PEPYS  MARVELS  AT  WONDERFUL  THINGS 

some  rocket,  though  it  was  much  brighter :  and  the 
world  do  make  much  discourse  ot  it,  their  apprehen- 
sions being  mighty  full  of  the  rest  of  the  City  to  be 
burned,  and  the  Papists  to  cut  our  throats. 

December  21,  1668. 

Went  into  Holborne,  and  there  saw  the  woman  that 
is  to  be  seen  with  a  beard.  She  is  a  little  plain  woman, 
a  Dane  :  her  name  Ursula  Dyan  ;  about  forty  years 
old ;  her  voice  like  a  little  girl's  ;  with  a  beard  as 
much  as  any  man  I  ever  saw,  black  almost,  and  grizly; 
it  began  to  grow  at  about  seven  years  old,  and  was 
shaved  not  above  seven  months  ago,  and  is  now  so 
big  as  any  man's  almost  that  ever  I  saw  ;  I  say, 
bushy  and  thick.  It  was  a  strange  sight  to  me,  I 
confess,  and  what  pleased  me  mightily. 

/fpri/8,  1669. 

Going  through  Smithfield,  I  did  see  a  coach  run 
over  a  coachman's  neck,  and  stand  upon  it,  and  yet 
the  man  rose  up,  and  was  well  after  it,  which  I  thought 
a  wonder. 

April  20,  1669. 

In  the  afternoon  we  walked  to  the  Old  Artillery- 
Ground  near  the  Spitalfields,  where  I  never  was  before, 
but  now,  by  Captain  Deane's  invitation,  did  go  to  see 
his  new  gun  tryed,  this  being  the  place  where  the 
Officers  of  the  Ordnance  do  try  all  their  great  guns  ; 
and  when  we  came,  did  find  that  the  trial  had  been 

293 


RED-LETTER   DAYS   OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

made  ;  and  they  going  away  with  extraordinary  report 
of  the  proof  of  his  gun,  which,  from  the  shortness  and 
bigness,  they  do  call  Punchinello.  But  I  desired  Colonel 
Legg  to  stay  and  give  us  a  sight  of  her  performance, 
which  he  did,  and  there,  in  short,  against  a  gun  more  than 
as  long  and  as  heavy  again,  and  charged  with  as  much 
powder  again,  she  carried  the  same  bullet  as  strong  to  the 
mark,  and  nearer  and  above  the  mark  at  a  point  blank 
than  their's,  and  is  more  easily  managed,  and  recoiles 
no  more  than  that,  which  is  a  thing  so  extraordinary 
as  to  be  admired  for  the  happiness  of  his  invention,  and  to 
the  great  regret  of  the  old  Gunners  and  Officers  of  the 
Ordnance  that  were  there,  only  Colonel  Legg  did  do 
her  much  right  in  his  report  of  her. 


294 


MR.   PEPYS'S   EYESIGHT 


MR.   PEPYS'S    EYESIGHT 

January  19,  1663-64. 

My  eyes  began  to  fail  me,  and  to  be  in  pain,  which  I 
never  felt  to  now-a-days. 

May  5,  1664. 

My  eyes  beginning  every  day  to  grow  less  and  less  able 
to  bear  with  long  reading  or  writing,  though  it  be  by 
daylight  ;  which  I  never  observed  till  now. 

November  4,  1667. 

To  Turlington,  the  great  spectacle-maker,  for  advice, 
who  dissuades  me  from  using  old  spectacles,  but  rather 
young  ones,  and  do  tell  me  that  nothing  can  wrong  my 
eyes  more  than  for  me  to  use  reading-glasses,  which  do 
magnify  much. 

June  23,  1668. 

To  Dr.  Turberville  about  my  eyes,  whom  I  met  with  : 
and  he  did  discourse,  I  thought,  learnedly  about  them  ; 
and  takes  time  before  he  did  prescribe  me  any  thing,  to 
think  of  it. 

295 


RED-LETTER    DAYS    OF    SAMUEL   PEPYS 

June  29,  1668. 

To  Dr.  Turberville's,  and  there  did  receive  a  direction 
for  some  physic,  and  also  a  glass  of  something  to  drop 
into  my  eyes  :  he  gives  me  hopes  that  I  may  do  well. 

June  30,  1668. 

To  bed,  my  eyes  bad,  but  not  worse,  only  weary  with 
working.  But,  however,  very  melancholy  under  the 
fear  of  my  eyes  being  spoiled,  and  not  to  be  recovered  ; 
for  I  am  come  that  I  am  not  able  to  read  out  a  small 
letter,  and  yet  my  sight  good  for  the  little  while  I  can 
read,  as  ever  it  was,  I  think. 

July  3,  1668. 

To  an  alehouse  :  met  Mr.  Pierce,  the  surgeon,  and 
Dr.  Clerke,  Waldron,  Turberville,  my  physician  for  the 
eyes,  and  Lowre,  to  dissect  several  eyes  of  sheep  and 
oxen,  with  great  pleasure,  and  to  my  great  information. 
But  strange  that  this  Turberville  should  be  so  great  a 
man,  and  yet,  to  this  day,  had  seen  no  eyes  dissected,  or 
but  once,  but  desired  this  Dr.  Lowre  to  give  him  the 
opportunity  to  see  him  dissect  some. 

July  5,  1668. 

(Lord's  day.)  About  four  in  the  morning  took  four 
pills  of  Dr.  Turberville's  prescribing,  for  my  eyes,  and  I 
did  get  my  wife  to  spend  the  morning  reading  of 
Wilkins's  Reall  Character. 

296 


MR.   PEPYS'S   EYESIGHT 


July  13,  1668. 

This  morning  I  was  let  blood,  and  did  bleed  about 
fourteen  ounces,  towards  curing  my  eyes. 

July  31,  1668. 

The  month  ends  mighty  sadly  with  me,  my  eyes  being 
now  past  all  use  almost ;  and  I  am  mighty  hot  upon 
trying  the  late  printed  experiment  of  paper  tubes. 

August  2,  1668. 

Walked  to  Barne  Elmes,  and  there,  and  going  and 
coming,  did  make  the  boy  read  to  me  several  things, 
being  now-a-days  unable  to  read  myself  anything,  for 
above  two  lines  together,  but  my  eyes  grow  weary. 

August  23,  1668. 

After  dinner  to  the  Office,  Mr.  Gibson  and  I,  to 
examine  my  letter  to  the  Duke  of  York,  which,  to  my 
great  joy,  I  did  very  well  by  my  paper  tube,  without 
pain  to  my  eyes. 

March  28,  1669. 

(Lord's  day.)  To  the  Office  with  Tom,  who  looks 
mighty  snug  upon  his  marriage,  as  Jane  also  do,  both  of 
whom  I  did  give  joy,  and  so  Tom  and  I  to  work  at  the 
Office  all  the  morning,  till  dinner,  and  then  dined, 
W.  Batelier  with  us  ;  and  so  after  dinner  to  work  again, 
and  sent  for  Gibson,  and  kept  him  also  till  eight  at  night, 
doing  much  business.  And  so,  that  being  done,  and  my 
Journal  writ,  my  eyes  being  very  bad,  and  every  day 

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worse  and  worse,  I  fear  :  but  I  find  it  most  certain  that 
stronge  drinks  do  make  my  eyes  sore,  as  they  have  done 
heretofore  always  ;  for,  when  I  was  in  the  country,  when 
my  eyes  were  at  the  best,  their  stronge  beere  would  make 
my  eyes  sore  ;  so  home  to  supper,  and  by  and  by  to  bed. 

April  2,  1669. 

This  night  I  did  bring  home  from  the  King's  potte- 
cary's,  in  White  Hall,  by  Mr.  Cooling's  direction,  a 
water  that  he  says  is  mighty  good  for  his  eyes.  I  pray 
God  it  may  do  me  good  ;  but,  by  his  description,  his 
disease  was  the  same  as  mine,  and  this  do  encourage  me 
to  use  it. 

April  n,  1669. 

Home,  and  so  set  down  my  Journal,  with  the  help  ot 
my  left  eye  through  my  tube,  for  fourteen  days  past  ; 
which  is  so  much  as,  I  hope,  I  shall  not  run  in  arrear 
again,  but  the  badness  of  my  eyes  do  force  me  to  it. 

April  25,  1669. 

(Lord's  day.)  Up,  and  to  my  Office  awhile,  and 
thither  comes  Lead  with  my  vizard,  with  a  tube  fastened 
within  both  eyes  ;  which,  with  the  help  which  he  prompts 
me  to,  of  a  glass  in  the  tube,  do  content  me  mightily.  To 
church,  where  a  stranger  made  a  dull  sermon,  but  I 
mightily  pleased  to  look  upon  Mr.  Buckworth's  little 
pretty  daughters.  W.  Howe  came  and  dined  with  us  ; 
and  then  I  to  my  Office,  he  being  gone,  to  write  down 
my  Journal  for  the  last  twelve  days  :  and  did  it  with  the 

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MR.   PEPYS'S   EYESIGHT 

fciigg 

help  of  my  vizard  and  tube  fixed  to  it,  and  do  find  it 
mighty  manageable,  but  how  helpful  to  my  eyes  this  trial 
will  show  me. 

April  30,  1669. 

I  to  my  coach,  which  is  silvered  over,  but  no  varnish 
yet  laid  on,  so  I  put  it  in  a  way  of  doing  ;  and  myself 
about  other  business,  and  particularly  to  see  Sir  W. 
Coventry,  with  whom  I  talked  a  good  while  to  my  great 
content  ;  and  so  to  other  places — among  others,  to  my 
tailor's  :  and  then  to  the  beltmaker's,  where  my  belt  cost 
me  555.  of  the  colour  of  my  new  suit ;  and  here,  under- 
standing that  the  mistress  of  the  house,  an  oldish  woman 
in  a  hat,  hath  some  water  good  for  the  eyes,  she  did  dress 
me,  making  my  eyes  smart  most  horribly,  and  did  give 
me  a  little  glass  of  it,  which  I  will  use,  and  hope  it  will 
do  me  good. 

May  31,  1669. 

Up  very  betimes,  and  continued  all  the  morning  with 
W.  Hewer,  upon  examining  and  stating  my  accounts,  in 
order  to  the  fitting  myself  to  go  abroad  beyond  sea, 
which  the  ill  condition  of  my  eyes,  and  my  neglect  for  a 
year  or  two  hath  kept  me  behind-hand  in,  and  so  as  to 
render  it  very  difficult  now,  and  troublesome  to  my  mind 
to  do  it  ;  but  I  this  day  made  a  satisfactory  entrance 
therein.  Had  another  meeting  with  the  Duke  of  York, 
at  White  Hall,  on  yesterday's  work,  and  made  a  good 
advance  :  and  so,  being  called  by  my  wife,  we  to  the 
Park,  Mary  Batelier,  and  a  Dutch  gentleman,  a  friend  of 

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hers,  being  with  us.  Thence  to  "  The  World's  End,"  a 
drinking-house  by  the  Park  ;  and  there  merry,  and  so 
home  late. 

And  thus  ends  all  that  I  doubt  I  shall  ever  be  able  to 
do  with  my  own  eyes  in  the  keeping  of  my  Journal,  I 
being  not  able  to  do  it  any  longer,  having  done  now  so 
long  as  to  undo  my  eyes  almost  every  time  that  I  take  a 
pen  in  my  hand  ;  and,  therefore,  whatever  comes  of  it,  I 
must  forbear :  and,  therefore,  resolve,  from  this  time 
forward,  to  have  it  kept  by  my  people  in  long-hand,  and 
must  be  contented  to  set  down  no  more  than  is  fit  for 
them  and  all  the  world  to  know  ;  or,  if  there  be  any 
thing,  I  must  endeavour  to  keep  a  margin  in  my  book 
open,  to  add,  here  and  there,  a  note  in  short-hand  with 
my  own  hand. 

And  so  I  betake  myself  to  that  course,  which  is  almost 
as  much  as  to  see  myself  go  into  my  grave  :  for  which, 
and  all  the  discomforts  that  will  accompany  my  being 
blind,  the  good  God  prepare  me  ! 

S.  P. 


THE    END. 


CNWIN  BROTHERS,  LIMITED,  THE  GRKSHAH  PRESS,  WOKINO  AND  LONDON. 


DA 

447 
P4A42 

1910 


00094^ 


1  oA  """fl 


OK-LOVERS'  SHOP 


